Mark Pols
Investor at 468 Capital
Menlo Park, California
Overview
Work Experience
Growth Investor
2023 - Current
Special projects supporting the CEO
2022
Corporate Development
2018 - 2022
Supported company executive leadership on various strategic projects, and acquisitions. Coordinated comms, policy and business-related initiatives vis-a-vis China. Established the company's worldwide minority investment activities and made investments in several leading tech companies in the US, Europe, SEA and India. Key role in formulating and executing the company's cross product business messaging strategy which resulted in the set up of a new org and major acquisition.
Stay N' Alive Productions, LLC is a social media marketing firm that provides clients with measurable profits.
Venture Capital Investor
2014 - 2017
Investments in technology companies that have great teams, products/services, and even bigger vision. Applying a global lens drawing from experiences in China, US and Europe. Investor in SoFi, Offerup, Airbnb and Slack.
Notable Capital is a venture capital firm investing in notable ideas, notable causes, and notable founders with global ambitions.
Corporate Development
2013 - 2015
Responsible for corporate/business development activities in China and other Asian markets including investments, acquisitions and partnerships across Amazon's core retail, cloud computing and digital device/content platforms. Actively consulted with senior management on China strategy and day-day operational decisions.
Amazon is a tech firm with a focus on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.
Raised $8,108,000,000.00 from DBS Bank and Mizuho Bank.
Executive Director
2007 - 2013
Investment banking team focused on non-Japan Asian technology sector with a primary focus on coverage of Chinese clients. I sourced and executed public and private capital raisings (including IPOs), mergers & acquisitions and other financial advisory services on behalf of many of the leading technology and internet companies in the region including Alibaba, Baidu, Dangdang, New Oriental, YY, iSoftstone, 21Vianet, Renren, Xueersi, Focus Media, JA Solar, Solarfun, Spreadtrum, LDK Solar, Nexon, Tencent and Tudou. During this period, we also provided advisory services to leading global technology and internet players looking to acquire or otherwise enter the China market.
Morgan Stanley Venture Partners is a private equity firm that invests in high-growth companies in the technology and healthcare industries.
Principal
2003 - 2007
Chief representative of Piper Jaffray in charge of China investment banking activities, located in Shanghai. Started the office from scratch, including local regulatory approvals, build out of infrastructure and initial hiring of staff. Drove further expansion into the Hong Kong market through an acquisition of a local brokerage firm. Executed largest ever bookrun IPO mandate for the firm and established clear market share leadership in China among the US mid-market focused firms.
Piper Jaffray Merchant Banking (PJMB) is a part of the asset management business of Piper Jaffray Companies
Associate
2003 - 2003
Helped establish West Coast technology investment banking team based in San Francisco.
FBR full-service investment banking, institutional sales, trading and research and asset management firm.
Associate
2001 - 2002
Analyst
1998 - 2001
Investment banking analyst in the technology team in London and Menlo Park, CA.
Morgan Stanley Venture Partners is a private equity firm that invests in high-growth companies in the technology and healthcare industries.
Education
MSc
1994 - 1998
MSc
1992 - 1998
High School
1986 - 1992