Michael Downing

Michael Downing is a highly experienced Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist, having co-founded six leading-edge software and technology companies, resulting in three acquisitions and one IPO. His entrepreneurial journey spans over 28 years, demonstrating a consistent ability to identify and build innovative businesses from the ground up, including early internet music services, online video platforms, and social video applications. mdsv+3

He is a dedicated early-stage investor and advisor, having angel invested in and advised over 60 technology startups. His notable angel investments include AngelList (20X MOIC), Notion (60X MOIC), Mercury (30X MOIC), and FalconX (190X MOIC), showcasing his keen eye for promising ventures and significant returns. He also co-founded Kicklabs, an early startup accelerator. mdsv+4

As the Founding and Managing Partner at MDSV Capital, Michael focuses on investing in hypergrowth outlier companies from the portfolios of small emerging manager funds, particularly in sectors like AI, Fintech, Enterprise SaaS, Defense Tech, Deep Tech, and the automation economy. His strategy is built on supporting emerging managers and co-investing in their most successful portfolio companies, a model he believes represents a pure form of venture capital with strong returns. mdsv+3

Michael has a unique perspective on company building, stemming from his early experience starting a software company in college and his continuous involvement in the tech industry, including serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SRI International for over a decade. He frequently contributes his insights on technology and innovation to platforms like CNBC and BloombergTV, and provides advice on startup funding, product-market fit, and launching new ventures through platforms like Clarity.fm and his Medium blog. mdsv+4