Mark Suster
InvestorManaging Partner at Upfront Ventures · Board director at DroneBase · Board director at UdiSense Inc. · Board director at uBeam
Los Angeles, CA
Writes $750K – $7M checks · typically $1M
Photo: The original uploader was Spncrinc at English Wikipedia., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons ↗
About
Mark Suster sold two startups, the second to Salesforce, before joining Upfront Ventures in 2007 and eventually leading the firm as managing partner. He is one of Los Angeles tech's most active champions, hosting the annual Upfront Summit and writing the long-running blog Both Sides of the Table. His posts on fundraising and board dynamics have been passed between founders for more than fifteen years.
Contact· published on Mark's own website
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- m•••@upfront.comreveal75% confident
Invests in
ConsumerHealthtechMedia & EntertainmentRetail TechSaaS
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Suster co-founded BuildOnline, a construction collaboration technology business, in 1999 with Brian Moran. Suster founded Koral, a content collaboration software business later acquired by Salesforce.com. Suster started the Launchpad LA accelerator in 2009 while at Upfront.
- Education
- Studied at University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA) Studied at University of California, San Diego (BA, Economics)
- Communities
- Suster is a prominent blogger in the American high-technology startup and venture capital world. Suster and Upfront host the Upfront Summit, an invite-only VC conference in Los Angeles drawing more than 1,000 attendees annually.
- Family
- Suster is married to Tania Suster and has two children. Suster grew up in Northern California, is a dual US and UK citizen, and is of Romanian Jewish ancestry.
- More
- Suster was diagnosed with ADHD in 2014 and has written and spoken openly about integrating his business skills with coping strategies for it.
From Mark's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at DroneBase
Intro paths
In turn, Mark can intro founders to DroneBase's investors below.
DroneBase's investors · 4
Co-founders at DroneBase
Board director at UdiSense Inc.
Intro paths
In turn, Mark can intro founders to UdiSense Inc.'s investors below.
UdiSense Inc.'s investors · 3
Co-founders at UdiSense Inc.
Board director at uBeam
Intro paths
In turn, Mark can intro founders to uBeam's investors below.
uBeam's investors · 5
Co-founders at uBeam
Experience
- Upfront VenturesGeneral Partnercurrent2007 — present
- salesforce.comVice President2007
- Koral (Acquired by Salesforce.com)Founder & CEO2006 — 2007
- BuildOnline (acquired by The Sword Group)Founder & CEO1999 — 2006
- AccentureSenior Manager, Strategy Consulting1991 — 1999
- First Interstate BankCorporate Finance1989 — 1991
Skills & more
From Mark's professional profile.
Deals · 8
DroneBaseBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Feb 2026 · $130M raise
Any SignalBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Jun 2025 · $11.2M raise
InvocaBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Jun 2022 · $100M raise
UdiSense Inc.Board seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Feb 2021 · $25M raise
Cognitive LogicBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Sep 2020 · $15.1M raise
KyribaBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Aug 2016 · $42M raise
uBeamBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Jul 2015 · $15M raise
textPlusBoard seat
via Upfront Ventures · filed Apr 2015 · $6.9M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Sources: curated public sources · SEC Form D filings.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Mark SusterUpfront Ventures' Mark Suster on Fund Management and the Exit Landscape
Turpentine VC
Mark Suster, Upfront Ventures: Investing in Space, Defense, & Exit Opportunities
Sourcery with Molly O'Shea
Inside the Mind of a Top VC on What Investors Value | Mark Suster - Upfront Ventures | Sachin Syal
Sachin Syal's "The O'ChakDe Show"
I believe you'll see this bank purchased by Sunday night or soon after, says Upfront Ventures' Mark Suster
cnbc.com
Venture Capital Firm Overview: Upfront Ventures w/ Mark Suster
Mark Peter Davis
Mark Suster - Upfront Ventures
LA Venture Podcast
Colleagues at Upfront Ventures
Network4
Investors connected to Mark in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Mark Suster?
- Mark Suster sold two startups, the second to Salesforce, before joining Upfront Ventures in 2007 and eventually leading the firm as managing partner. He is one of Los Angeles tech's most active champions, hosting the annual Upfront Summit and writing the long-running blog Both Sides of the Table. His posts on fundraising and board dynamics have been passed between founders for more than fifteen years.
- Where does Mark Suster work?
- Mark Suster is Managing Partner at Upfront Ventures and Board director at DroneBase and Board director at UdiSense Inc. and Board director at uBeam.
- What does Mark Suster invest in?
- Mark Suster invests in Consumer, Healthtech, Media & Entertainment, Retail Tech, SaaS.
- What check size does Mark Suster write?
- Mark Suster typically writes checks of $750K – $7M.
- What boards does Mark Suster sit on?
- Mark Suster holds tracked board seats at Any Signal, Cognitive Logic, DroneBase, Invoca, Kyriba, Maker Studios, textPlus, uBeam, UdiSense Inc..
- What companies has Mark Suster invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Bird, Invoca, MakeSpace, mitu, Nanit, Osmo, Ring, Tact, ThreadUp, uBeam, TrueCar.
- Where did Mark Suster go to school?
- Mark Suster studied at University of Chicago (MBA); UC San Diego (BA, Economics & Political Science (double major)).
- What podcasts and interviews feature Mark Suster?
- Tracked appearances include "Upfront Ventures' Mark Suster on Fund Management and the Exit Landscape", "Mark Suster, Upfront Ventures: Investing in Space, Defense, & Exit Opportunities", "Inside the Mind of a Top VC on What Investors Value | Mark Suster - Upfront Ventures | Sachin Syal", and 6 more.
- Does Mark Suster lead rounds?
- Yes — Mark Suster has led 10 tracked investments.
Paths to reach Mark
People who overlapped with Mark at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at Upfront VenturesMark: Managing Partner
Together at SalesforceMark: Vice President
Together at First Interstate BankMark: Corporate Finance
Together at InvocaMark: Director
Together at DroneBaseMark: Director
Same school
Also attended University of Chicago349
+ 343 more
Also attended UC San Diego307
+ 301 more
Shared employers
Also worked at salesforce.com253
+ 247 more
Also worked at Accenture736
+ 730 more
