Fundraising Fox

Mark Kraynak

InvestorFounder

Founding Partner at Acrew Capital · Investor at Aspect Ventures · Board director at Protect AI

United States

About

Technology executive and company builder who joined Aspect as an Entrepreneur in Residence and became a full-time investor in late 2017. Spent nearly 13 years at Imperva in marketing, product, and strategy roles.

Invests in

ConsumerCybersecurityData & InfrastructureFintechFuture of Work

Beyond investing

Education
Studied at Duke University (BSE, Electrical Engineering and English) Studied at American University (MFA, Literature)
Hobbies
Kraynak has learned to ride a horse and to surf in the past five years, though with three small children at home he rarely has time for either. Kraynak barrel ages his own proprietary Manhattan recipe.
Family
Kraynak has three small children at home.

From Mark's own website — common ground for a warm intro.

Board director at Protect AI

Intro paths

→

In turn, Mark can intro founders to Protect AI's investors below.

Protect AI's investors · 10

01 AdvisorsSan Francisco · $1M – $10M checks · since 2024Acrew CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $15M checks · since 2024Aviso VenturesSeattle · since 2024boldstart venturesMiami · $1M – $3M checks · since 2024Evolution Equity PartnersNew York · $20M – $150M checks · since 2024Evolution TechnologyNew York · since 2024Pelion VenturesSalt Lake City · since 2024Salesforce VenturesSan Francisco · $5M – $50M checks · since 2024Samsung NextSan Jose · $100K – $5M checks · since 2024Stepstone GroupCharlotte · since 2024

Co-founders at Protect AI

IS
Ian SwansonExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
BA
Badar AhmedDirector
DD
Daryan DehghanpishehDirector

Experience

  1. Acrew CapitalFounding Partnercurrent2019 — presentSF Bay Area
  2. AembitBoard Directorcurrent2024 — present
  3. At-BayBoard Directorcurrent2020 — present
  4. Casa Inc.Board Directorcurrent2022 — present
  5. EvidentBoard Directorcurrent2024 — present
  6. EvidentBoard Observer2019 — 2024
  7. NextdataBoard Directorcurrent2023 — present
  8. Nokod SecurityBoard Directorcurrent2023 — present
  9. Protect AIBoard Directorcurrent2022 — present
  10. Radiant SecurityBoard Directorcurrent2021 — present
  11. SilverfortBoard Directorcurrent2019 — present
  12. Coin MetricsBoard Observercurrent2021 — present
  13. Cato NetworksInvestorcurrent2017 — present
  14. Edge ImpulseInvestorcurrent2020 — present
  15. DittoInvestorcurrent2023 — present
  16. Aqua SecurityAdvisor & Investorcurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  17. VantaInvestorcurrent2022 — present
  18. System Inc.Investorcurrent2021 — present
  19. Aira TechnologiesInvestorcurrent2021 — present
  20. AltoInvestorcurrent2021 — present
  21. ContendaInvestorcurrent2022 — present
  22. HedgeyInvestorcurrent2021 — present
  23. AvantgardeInvestorcurrent2021 — present
  24. Aspect VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2017 — present
  25. Aspect VenturesEntrepreneur In Residence2017San Francisco Bay Area
  26. ExabeamBoard Observer2022 — 2024
  27. Petabyte TechnologyInvestor2019 — 2022
  28. CipherTraceBoard Director2019 — 2021
  29. TruSTAR TechnologyBoard Observer & Advisor2018 — 2021
  30. KloudlessBoard Director, Advisor & Investor2015 — 2021
  31. Integris SoftwareBoard Director2018 — 2020Greater Seattle Area
  32. OrkusBoard Director2018 — 2019
  33. IndegyAdvisor & Investor2015 — 2019
  34. n/aSelf Made Sabbatical2017
  35. ImpervaSVP and GM Enterprise2015 — 2017
  36. ImpervaChief Product Officer2014 — 2015Redwood Shores
  37. ImpervaSVP Worldwide Marketing2012 — 2014
  38. ImpervaBoard Director (Incapsula)2009 — 2014
  39. ImpervaVP Marketing2008 — 2012
  40. ImpervaSenior Director of Strategic Marketing2007 — 2008

Education

  1. Duke UniversityBSE, Electrical Engineering & English1990 — 1995
  2. American UniversityMaster of Fine Arts (MFA), Literature (Creative Writing)1998 — 2000
  3. Nordonia

Investments

Led

Aqua SecurityAt-BayBlockfiCasaCato NetworksCoin MetricsData & Security EarlyData & Security EarlyData & Security EarlyData & Security EarlyEdgeImpulseExabeamModerneNokod SecurityProtect AIRadiant SecuritySystemVanta

Board seats

Incapsula

Per curated public sources.

Colleagues at Acrew Capital

Aliisa Rosenthal
General Partner at Acrew Capital
Andrew McKinzie
Investor at Acrew Capital
Angela Azem
VP of Operations at Acrew Capital
Ariel McCann
Administrative Operations Assistant & Office Manager at Acrew Capital
Asad Khaliq
Founding Partner at Acrew Capital
Ashley Morello
Executive Assistant at Acrew Capital
Brody Gardner
Assistant Controller at Acrew Capital
Charlee Evans
Executive Assistant at Acrew Capital

Network1

Amr Awadallah
Angel investor

Investors connected to Mark in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Mark Kraynak?
Technology executive and company builder who joined Aspect as an Entrepreneur in Residence and became a full-time investor in late 2017. Spent nearly 13 years at Imperva in marketing, product, and strategy roles.
Where does Mark Kraynak work?
Mark Kraynak is Founding Partner at Acrew Capital and Board director at Protect AI.
What does Mark Kraynak invest in?
Mark Kraynak invests in Consumer, Cybersecurity, Data & Infrastructure, Fintech, Future of Work.
What boards does Mark Kraynak sit on?
Mark Kraynak holds tracked board seats at Incapsula.
What companies has Mark Kraynak invested in?
Investments tracked here include Aqua Security, At-Bay, Blockfi, Casa, Cato Networks, Coin Metrics, Data & Security Early, Data & Security Early, Data & Security Early, Data & Security Early, EdgeImpulse, Exabeam, and 6 more.
Where did Mark Kraynak go to school?
Mark Kraynak studied at Duke University (BSE, Electrical Engineering & English); American University (Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Literature (Creative Writing)); Nordonia.
Does Mark Kraynak lead rounds?
Yes — Mark Kraynak has led 18 tracked investments.

Same school

Also attended Duke University500

Fred EhrsamCo-founder and Senior Advisor at Paradigm; founder of NudgeJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersZach PerretCo-founder & CEO of Plaid; co-founder of MischiefJulie YangVice President at InvestcorpScott RaneyManaging Director at Redpoint VenturesJack Bixby LucasGeneral Partner at Lucas Venture Group

+ 494 more

Also attended American University76

Vincent DialloInvestor at DaphniAmanda ThickpennyEvents Manager at NorthzoneCarleigh MorbaInvestor at Index VenturesAndrew ForysiakOwner, AJF and Associates at Riphean InvestmentsAlyssa DadolyCFO & Partner at Silverton PartnersTensie WhelanEx President, Rainforest Alliance at Giant Ventures Global Llp

+ 70 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Casa Inc.1

Alyse KilleenFounder & Managing Partner at STILLMARK

Also worked at Silverfort10

Yuval CohenFounder and Managing Partner at StageOne VenturesTom PorterVice President, DCF at Acrew CapitalAvery SchwartzGeneral Partner at Greenfield PartnersRaz MangelPartner at Greenfield PartnersOrtal Sasson HendinGrowth Investor at Greenfield PartnersAlex DikmanManaging Partner at Lumir Ventures

+ 4 more

Also worked at Aqua Security5

James EphratiPartner at Lightspeed Venture PartnersRona SegevCo-Founder and Managing Partner at TLV PartnersBrian SackPartner at TLV PartnersLonne JaffeManaging Director at Insight PartnersGuy Ben AharonFounder at OneCLI

Also worked at Imperva9

Asheem ChandnaPartner at Greylock; enterprise and cybersecurity investor since 2003Bill ButlerInvestor at Sand Hill AngelsRob WardCo-Founder and Partner at Meritech Capital PartnersPatrick MassetCEO, AIIM at Vegvisir CapitalMichael KantarovichInvestor at CyberstartsMickey BoodaeiPartner at Picture Capital

+ 3 more