Mark Leslie

Mark Leslie is a highly respected figure in the Silicon Valley ecosystem, known for his multifaceted career as a successful entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and academic. He served as the founding CEO of Veritas Software, leading the company from its inception to a multi-billion dollar enterprise before its acquisition by Symantec for approximately $13.5 billion in 2005. This deep operational background provides him with unique insights into building and scaling technology companies. Currently, Leslie is a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he imparts his extensive knowledge in entrepreneurship and sales organization to future leaders.

As an investor, Mark Leslie operates primarily through Leslie Ventures, his private investment company, and previously as a Managing Director at August Capital, a prominent venture capital firm. His investment focus is predominantly on early-stage technology companies, particularly those in enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sectors. Leslie is highly sought after not just for capital but also for his strategic guidance, especially in areas like sales strategy, go-to-market execution, and organizational scaling, which are critical for nascent companies. He often takes on board roles, actively mentoring leadership teams.

Leslie's portfolio includes several highly successful technology companies that have achieved significant market impact. Notable investments include early-stage participation in Zoom, the video conferencing giant, Pure Storage, a leading data storage company, and Nutanix, a pioneer in hyperconverged infrastructure. His involvement often begins at the seed or Series A stage, demonstrating a commitment to nurturing companies from their foundational phases. For instance, he was an early investor in Zoom, which went on to raise approximately $160 million in venture funding before its IPO, and he also supported Pure Storage through multiple early rounds. His typical first check size for these early-stage investments ranges from approximately $250,000 for seed rounds to $3,000,000 for more developed Series A opportunities, reflecting his capacity to provide substantial capital alongside invaluable strategic advice.