Mark Wachen, Upstage Ventures

Mark Wachen is the CEO and Founder of Upstage Ventures, a seed fund he established in April 2010 that advises. See portfolio, sector focus and contact routes.

About Mark Wachen

Mark Wachen is the CEO and Founder of Upstage Ventures, a seed fund he established in April 2010 that advises and invests in early-stage companies, while he previously served as Managing Partner at DreamIt Ventures and founded Optimost, a pioneer in multivariate testing. His investment thesis targets consumer internet and interactive marketing companies, focusing on pre-seed and seed stages with a geographic emphasis on the Greater New York area and the East Coast. Typical check sizes are not explicitly detailed in available sources, though Upstage Ventures actively engages with portfolio firms through strategic mentorship rather than just capital. Notable portfolio companies include SeatGeek, Veritonic, Bolster, and YouNow, with Wachen also serving as a Board Member at Veritonic Inc.. Wachen’s distinctive point of view centers on the future of work and employee engagement, as reflected in his leadership of CardSnacks, an employee engagement platform he founded in 2017 that enables recognition programs via gift cards and e-cards. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in Economics and Psychology from Dartmouth College, grounding his v

Mark Wachen at a glance

Role
CEO & Founder
Organization
Upstage Ventures
Location
New York, New York, United States
Investor type
Individual/Angel
Focus areas
Software
Portfolio companies listed
8
Investments recorded
9

Frequently asked about Mark Wachen

What does Mark Wachen invest in?
Mark Wachen at Upstage Ventures (New York, New York, United States) — sector focus: Software.
How do I contact Mark Wachen?
Mark Wachen's published profile links (website, LinkedIn or X where available) are listed on the StartupFundraising.com investor profile.
Where is Mark Wachen based?
Mark Wachen is based in New York, New York, United States.

Details on this investor come from filing and round data held in the StartupFundraising directory, refreshed on ingest. Founders use profiles like this one to qualify fit and to shortlist investors in New York.

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