Michael Palank
General Partner at MaC Investor
Michael Palank
General Partner at MaC Investor
Los Angeles, California
Overview
Work Experience
General Partner
2019 - Current
MaC Venture Capital is the result of the merger between successful Los Angeles and Bay Area based Seed funds, Cross Culture Ventures and M Ventures. MaC Venture Capital is an early stage venture capital firm focused on finding ideas, technology, and products that can become infectious. We invest in technology companies that benefit from shifts in cultural trends and behaviors in an increasingly diverse global marketplace.
General Partner
2017 - 2019
M Ventures is a uniquely positioned and constructed early-stage venture firm. We invest not only our capital, but also our time, relationships and expertise into technology companies that use software and the internet to create innovative consumer or enterprise products and solutions. Our team brings unique experiences from differentiated fields of media, entertainment, politics, finance and technology as both operators and investors to find, invest in, and grow the leading companies of the future.
VP, Digital & Business Development
2015 - 2017
Macro is a disruptive media company focused on the multicultural market founded by former WME partner Charles King. At Macro, I worked on the development and execution of the company's digital strategy as well as the analysis and development of new business opportunities.
Controller
2004 - 2016
Reincarnate Music is an independent record label created out of ARTISTdirect. Since 2004, the label has released over 50 albums. I was responsible for all financial aspects of the label which include the management of balance sheet accounts and all P&L accounting, preparation and submission of quarterly album, producer and mechanical royalty statements, and the oversight of the quarterly and yearly audits.
Business Development Consultant; Financial Modeling and Business Strategy Lead
2013 - 2014
memBrain Ventures helps brands, influencers and startups incubate and accelerate ventures. Recent clients and collaborators include Imagine Entertainment (Brian Grazer and Ron Howard), David Copperfield, Perry Farrell (Jane's Addiction and Lollapalooza), Gwyneth Paltrow, David Babaii and others.
Operations and Strategy Consultant
2013 - 2014
Made with Elastic works with an array of companies such as HTC, Warby Parker, Levi Strauss & Co., and Lacoste and digital businesses including Gobbler.com, Box.com and Doodle.ly. Today, MWE is on the forefront of entertainment and brand integrations while working on synergistic short and long-term entertainment concepts and global digital successes, creating brand-elevating influencer and cultural strategies while also providing targeted business advisory services.
Head of Business Development
2012 - 2013
TopFloor is bridging the gap between digital influence and e-commerce. The company was incubated inside the Santa Monica technology studio Science Media. At TopFloor, I led all revenue generation efforts through vendor relationships and influencer marketing, focusing on structuring CPC/CPA deals and leveraging YouTube and Instagram talent to drive social commerce.
New Business Consultant
2012 - 2012
Amplify.LA is a hands-on startup accelerator and multi-faceted entrepreneurial campus in Los Angeles backed by investors such as Accel Partners, Tim Draper, Greycroft and Paige Craig. At Amplify, I worked as a consultant to analyze new investments opportunities, both from a creative and business perspective. I also worked with multiple portfolio companies in digital media, ecommerce, and mobile to further develop business models, financial projections, and corporate strategy.
Director of Business Development and Corporate Strategy
2010 - 2012
Overbrook Entertainment is the film and television production company founded by Will Smith and James Lassiter. At Overbrook, I worked on the creation of new business ventures in areas such as film and television production, social and digital media, digital technology and consumer products. I developed and executed an analytical framework to analyze business opportunities for their strategic and financial fit with Overbrook.
Agent, Motion Picture and Television Talent Group
2004 - 2009
The William Morris Agency was a 110 year-old talent agency founded in 1898 that represented some of the best and brightest talent in the entertainment businesses. Working my way up as an agent trainee out of the famed mailroom to assistant to two major talent agents, I was promoted to agent in 2008. I represented some of Hollywood's most talented actors, including two Oscar winners. My work focused on the coverage of major studio feature films and network and cable television pilots as well as business development initiatives in web video and video games.
Education
Bachelor of Science
1998 - 2002