Fundraising Fox
Mark Suster
InvestorGeneral Partner at Blizzard · General Partner at Upfront Ventures
Los Angeles, CA
Writes $750K – $7M checks · typically $1M
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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
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.
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
Kyriba CorpBoard 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
Led
BirdMakeSpacemituNanitOsmoRingTactThreadUp
Board seats
Maker Studios
Investor
222AdlyAircamALL DAYAndrenam AI-powered maritime sensingAnySignalawe.smBurstlyDensityDSCVREcoMomEpoxyFerrisGameSaladGravityGumGumInfoSumIteraMaker StudiosMakeSpaceModern AnimalMyTimeNanitNeverwareOsmoPlotdrivePose.comProjector AppQueer SpacesREDEFRementoSafeSecfenseSkurtSOLVESonicEnergy™Tact.aiTreehouseTrueCarVADEVidmeWheel
Sources: curated public sources · SEC Form D filings.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Mark SusterMark Suster: Why Private Equity Will Replace IPOs and M&A as the Exit Path | E1147
20VC with Harry Stebbings
Max Altman & Ben Braverman chart Saga VC's maiden voyage with Mark Suster | E1948
This Week in Startups
Upfront 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
6 more appearances
- Venture Capital Firm Overview: Upfront Ventures w/ Mark Suster2021-07-16
- Mark Suster - Upfront Ventures2020-11-11
- Reid Hoffman Interview with Mark Suster | Upfront Summit 20192019-02-20
- Mark Suster (Upfront Ventures) on How to Find the Right VCs For Your Startup2018-09-25
- Mark Suster (Upfront Ventures) on the Elements of a Memorable 1-Minute Startup Intro2018-09-24
- Mark Suster (Upfront Ventures) to Founders: ABR (Always Be Raising)2018-09-24
Colleagues at Blizzard
Network5
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 General Partner at Blizzard and General Partner at Upfront Ventures.
- 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 Corp, 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, 222, Adly, and 41 more.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Mark Suster?
- Tracked appearances include "Mark Suster: Why Private Equity Will Replace IPOs and M&A as the Exit Path | E1147", "Max Altman & Ben Braverman chart Saga VC's maiden voyage with Mark Suster | E1948", "Upfront Ventures' Mark Suster on Fund Management and the Exit Landscape", and 9 more.
- Does Mark Suster lead rounds?
- Yes — Mark Suster has led 10 tracked investments.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Blizzard's own website, regulatory filings, press coverage and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights