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Mark Terbeek

Mark Terbeek is a venture capital investor known for his long tenure as a partner at Greycroft, a firm founded by Alan Patricof, where he has focused on enterprise software and cloud platforms since 2013 [1][4][18]. He entered the venture industry in 1995 after working at McKinsey, subsequently joining the Chicago investment bank First Analysis before moving to MK Capital, giving him a career in venture investing spanning roughly three decades [14]. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from DePauw University and an MBA from Stanford, where he studied before beginning his McKinsey career [12][13][14].

Terbeek has written and spoken extensively about what he terms "founder-investor fit," arguing that the venture relationship should be understood as a long-duration commitment comparable to a professional marriage, one that at Greycroft is expected to last at least ten years [15][14]. He notes that the venture industry has changed markedly since the mid-1990s, when there were far fewer early-stage investors and deals moved through faster cycles, with companies frequently going public within five to seven years of a Series A round; he contrasts this with the current environment, in which companies often remain private for ten to fifteen years or longer, raising the stakes of choosing the right investor partner [14]. He also points out that markets such as New York and Los Angeles, once marginal to venture activity compared to Boston, have grown into major hubs in their own right [14].

On investment philosophy, Terbeek describes Greycroft's approach as prioritizing flexibility toward founders, since the trajectory of a company rarely matches the projections made at the time of investment, and the firm's own personnel or roles supporting a portfolio company may need to change as the business evolves [15]. He emphasizes a deliberate courtship process before investing, including reference checks in both directions and close attention to cultural alignment between founders and investors, alongside a commitment to direct and honest communication even when conveying difficult news [15]. He further argues that board votes, as distinct from shareholder votes, should be governed by a fiduciary duty to maximize long-term value for the company as a whole, contending that the best outcomes occur when founders build consensus and cultural alignment before contentious votes arise, making split board votes rare in his experience [15].

Beyond his role at Greycroft, Terbeek serves on the boards of several companies including Icertis, Scopely, Clozd, Kandji, Ocient, and Leena AI, and he chairs the board of LA Dance Project [5][6][7][8][9][10][11].

Experience

  1. Partner
    GreycroftMar 2013 to Present
  2. Chairperson of the Board
    LA Dance ProjectDec 2021 to Present
  3. Member Board of Directors
    ICERTISApr 2015 to Present
  4. Member Board of Directors (Acquired by Savvy Games Group)
    ScopelyApr 2016 to Present
  5. Member Board of Directors
    ClozdApr 2022 to Present
  6. Member Board of Directors
    KandjiSep 2022 to Present
  7. Member Board Of Directors
    OcientJan 2021 to Present
  8. Member Board Of Directors
    Leena AIOct 2020 to Present

Education

Media & appearances

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