CEO and Co-Founder of Summit Ventures | GP and Co-Founder of Gauntlet Ventures

Mark Elliott is a visionary leader with a distinguished track record, currently serving as the CEO and Co-Founder of Summit Ventures, as well as the General Partner and Co-Founder of Gauntlet Ventures.

With over 25 years of experience in strategy, operations, marketing, and finance, Mark has consistently leveraged his unparalleled expertise to enhance company performance, streamline processes, and drive remarkable profitability. His unwavering commitment to ensuring an exceptional customer journey toward desired outcomes is a testament to his success. Mark is also recognized as a distinguished IT professional and a best-selling author on cyber security, drawing inspiration from an unexpected source—pie.

Mark uses the analogy of a pie sliced into thirds to champion the belief that equal distribution of success is essential for sustainable long-term growth. He ardently advocates for balance among clients, companies, and shareholders, asserting that any venture lacking this equilibrium will yield only short-term gains unworthy of investment.

Before founding Summit, Mark held executive leadership roles where he propelled three startups to significant revenue milestones of $88 million, $42 million, and $11 million, respectively. His extensive tenure in the technology industry has endowed him with a comprehensive understanding of business operations, extending beyond IT. His expertise spans strategic planning, process optimization, profit and loss management, asset allocation, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

As a professional investor, Mark has been a member of a syndicate and participated in over 40 IPOs and 100 secondaries. His strategy has evolved over the decades, focusing on the pre-IPO market for both early and late-stage investments. Mark is currently fostering early investments in Apeel Sciences, Cohere, Epic Games, Flexport, GrubMarket, Klarna, Shield AI, SpaceX, and X.ai.

Mark’s ultimate objective can be encapsulated in a simple yet profound statement: leveraging existing strengths for exceptional performance, mitigating compliance risks, and forging enduring, sustainable relationships. His resolute mission is to prioritize an exceptional customer experience, ensuring seamless business continuity and fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurial excellence.