Michael Lightman

Founder

2021 - Current

Great founder? Successful business? Sh*t story? We help founders tell the story investors need to hear.

Venture Partner

2021

Republic gives people the power to invest in the future they believe in by providing access to startup, real estate, crypto, and video game investments. Focused on creating a diverse, sustainable, connected world, Republic has facilitated over $250 million in investments from over one million global community members. Republic Venture Partners (like me) collaborate across the startup ecosystem to support founders and their ideas. If you are a startup looking to raise capital from the crowd, message me here on LinkedIn!

Outreach Strategy Consultant

2021 - 2023

Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) is a two-year program at Argonne National Labortory for innovators focusing on energy and science technologies. Through an annual application call, four to six teams will be selected to join CRI. Program participants will receive the financial and technical support needed to mature nascent technologies that face long development cycles to the proof-of-concept level, thus getting them to the point where they can access conventional sources of financial support to scale and launch into the marketplace. CRI’s ability to embed innovators at Argonne and provide multi-faceted support sets it apart from incubators, accelerators and R&D fellowships.

Strategy & Outreach Coordinator

2021 - 2023

Duality is the preeminent quantum focused accelerator. Headquartered at the Polsky Center at the University of Chicago, the team has partnered with the biggest names in quantum to provide entrepreneurs with everything they need to build and grow the next generation of quantum startup.

Director of Strategy

2019 - 2020

Managing Partner (Founding Member)

2019 - 2019

BIV is part venture fund, part accelerator. I was number two in the organization and helped raise $50M, set up the investment thesis for both the accelerator and fund, brought in and trained the team, and helped kick off the NY and Singapore programs.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InfoDev

2015 - 2019

Supported the design and rollout of two accelerators in the Caribbean, one on Climatech companies and the other on 'last mile to investment' companies. I also supported the design and rollout of an accelerator in Ethiopia and helped put together a guidebook on accelerator best practices.