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Mike Heller

Mike Heller

Partner at Floodgate, specializing in AI-native investments and go-to-market strategies

mike-heller
San Francisco Bay Area, California, United States
Joined August 2025
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Summary

Mike Heller is a seasoned go-to-market (GTM) leader with a proven track record of scaling revenue functions at early-stage technology companies. At Clearbit, as the first business hire, he spearheaded a period of 40x revenue growth, implementing a 'product-led-sales' motion that helped the company scale from ~$1M to $10M ARR in 18 months. His experience also includes leadership roles at Dropbox and Whimsical, where he developed and executed effective sales and growth strategies. floodgate+2
Transitioning from operational GTM roles, Mike Heller has established himself as a prominent early-stage investor and advisor. As a Partner at Floodgate, he focuses on identifying and supporting founders who are building innovative solutions, particularly those leveraging AI. His advisory work, including roles as a Venture Scout for Craft Ventures, Venture Partner at Angular Ventures, and Expert-in-Residence at First Round Capital, demonstrates his commitment to nurturing the next generation of startups. floodgate+3
Heller is recognized for his expertise in founder-led sales, emphasizing counterintuitive approaches like authentic positioning and strategic silence to convert skeptical prospects into buyers. He has advised over 30 seed-stage startups on crafting and executing their go-to-market strategies, sharing insights on how to balance immediate wins with long-term market positioning and leveraging AI in sales. elliottpoppel

Work

Education

Writing

Sales discovery to scale: A go-to-market expert's guide to founder-led sales

February 11, 2025

An article featuring Mike Heller's insights on sales strategies for early-stage startups, focusing on founder-led sales, authentic positioning, strategic silence, and the role of AI in sales. Published as part of the 'Minimum Viable Podcast' series.

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When I joined Clearbit, we scaled from ~$1M to $10M ARR in 18 months with a 3-person sales team

A LinkedIn post discussing the strategies and factors behind Clearbit's rapid revenue growth, highlighting the importance of demand generation and founder-led problem-solving in early-stage marketing.

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It’s never been less clear where markets are headed, yet I’m thrilled to share that I’m joining Floodgate as a partner

A LinkedIn post announcing his new role as Partner at Floodgate, expressing his focus on investing in seed/pre-seed founders building for the future, particularly in AI.

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Hobbies

Enjoys uncommon animal encounters, high quality produce, and anything outdoors with his two boys. floodgate

Notes

CAChristopher Anzalonesaid
MHMike Heller
is among the most helpful angel investors they've encountered when it comes to offering advice or introductions to founders.

Jul 20, 2025