Mark is an entrepreneur to the core. After selling colorful moccasins to college girls, popcorn to grocers, being an investment banker, and cofounding GiftCertificates.com, he cofounded Hayneedle Inc. – an online home product retailer based right here in Omaha.

While Hayneedle’s growth was swift, it still needed cash to scale. Venture capital firms across the country were calling Mark, but he couldn’t get a dime of risk capital in the Midwest. Luckily, a roadshow in California gave Hayneedle the exposure Mark needed to secure funding from two of the country’s top VCs, Sequoia Capital and Insight Venture Partners.

Mark knew of other rapidly growing businesses in the Midwest with incredibly talented founders. They were succeeding, but had no investment capital to fund further growth. And, as the costs of startup technology companies continued to decline, he couldn’t sit and watch from the sidelines.

So in 2010 Mark founded Dundee Venture Capital to invest in companies at the earliest stages and to mentor startups as they ramp up their growth. Mark and his team have two funds in excess of $20 million. Mark will have you know that he is the 5-time defending Manager of the Year in the Beer & Pretzel Hockey League (it’s serious business).

Technology