ML

Miles Lasater

Founding Partner at Purpose Built Ventures

New Haven, Connecticut

Overview

Work Experience

  • CEO & Founding Partner

    2018 - Current

    Purpose Built is a venture studio. Purpose Built venture studio brings together pre-product entrepreneurs, capital, coaching, and resources to turn the best ideas into great companies focused on fintech, upskilling, and the future of work. We previously invested in startups seeking to make people healthier or wealthier. www.purposebuilt.vc

  • Podcast Host & Executive Producer

    2021

    90+ episodes for ongoing podcast on High-Growth High-Values Ventures. Interviews with founders, thought leaders and investors. Listen in at: www.startupsforgood.com

  • Venture Partner

    2017 - 2020

    Venture Partner at F-Prime Capital Partners with focus on enterprise IT and fintech. Looking for great early stage companies & great teams for investment More about the firm: http://fprimecapital.com/about/.

  • Founder and Member Board of Directors

    2007 - 2019

    -Founder of software-as-a-service business for governments and citizens -Grew company from idea to ~30 employees and 200+ paying clients -Company acquired in 2019 -Created company name, go-to-market strategy and initial product vision -Developed pitch deck, built financial model and recruited team members -Personally raised much of ~$250,000 seed financing round -Pitched business onstage at WeMedia to win first place and $25,000 prize -Drafted original client and customer contracts and oversaw legal work during negotiation of initial contracts -Wrote minor parts of original alpha product code base -Involved in product direction and strategy -Created initial internal financial systems and point of contact for first financial audit

  • Co-Founder & COO

    2015 - 2016

    Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer. OneUni is a mobile-first education technology and services company that partners with top universities around the world to enable students to earn university degrees primarily using a smartphone.

  • Lecturer in the Practice of Entrepreneurship

    2014 - 2015

    Co-created and taught a course on managing software development. First of its kind at Yale's business school. The class is affiliated with the entrepreneurship center. More info at https://mgt656.som.yale.edu/

  • Founder former Chairman

    1999 - 2014

    -Founder and senior executive taking company from idea to $200mil+ revenue, 750+ employees and public listing on NYSE -Achieved ~50 to 100x financial return for seed investors to IPO -Directly involved in raising $16mil in venture capital and $75mil in private equity -Lead final negotiations, contract signing and integration for $20+mil acquisition of software company -Served as CIO/COO for many years with annual technology budget growing to $30mil+ -Leader of product management function for many years -Directly managed and later oversaw global software develop team that grew to 75+. Incorporator and lead executive on creating Indian subsidiary in Chennai with 30+ technical team -Conducted many executive searches including CEO, CIO, VP HR, VP Sales -Conceptualized and lead implementation of initial banking product IT infrastructure -Negotiation of multiple vendor contracts worth $10s of millions including a major vendor with 30% price reduction -Champion for internal culture which helped company win two national Great Place to Work Awards -Built service culture that contributed to 98+% client retention -Created in-house and from-home call center growing to 500+ agents supporting millions of annual service contacts

  • Invention Team

    1999 - 2000

    -Member of invention team in R&D division of Jay Walker’s idea factory and incubator. -Created new patentable inventions; researched and refined ideas. -Evaluated competitor’s patents and prior art for value and strength. -Worked on intellectual property for spin-off companies including: Priceline, Priceline Webhouse, and Retail DNA.

Relevant Websites