Partners Who
Have Built Before
Every member of the Plakario team has spent time on the other side of the table. We are operators-turned-investors who bring practical experience and hard-won judgment to every partnership.
The Core Investment Team
Marcus brings twenty years of experience across enterprise software, cloud infrastructure, and AI. Prior to co-founding Plakario, he served as a General Partner at two New York-based seed funds and led product at a SaaS company acquired by Oracle. His investment focus spans developer tools, AI infrastructure, and enterprise automation. Marcus holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BSc in Computer Science from Cornell University.
Elena is a two-time founder who sold her second company, a B2B SaaS platform, to Salesforce in 2019. She joined the investment side of the table after observing firsthand the gap between what founders need from investors and what they typically receive. She focuses on B2B software, fintech infrastructure, and founder-led growth strategies. Elena studied Economics at the London School of Economics and holds an MSc from INSEAD.
Adrian joined Plakario from a cybersecurity-focused venture fund where he spent five years building deep expertise in identity security, zero-trust architecture, and enterprise data protection. Before venture, he worked as a security architect at Palo Alto Networks and as an early engineer at a Series B cybersecurity startup. He brings a technical depth that allows him to evaluate product and engineering decisions with unusual precision. Adrian holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from MIT.
Sophie focuses on deal origination and portfolio support with a particular interest in data infrastructure, analytics platforms, and the application layer of enterprise AI. She spent three years as a management consultant at McKinsey's tech practice before moving into venture, and holds an MSc in Data Science from ETH Zurich and a BA in Philosophy from Heidelberg University. Sophie leads Plakario's relationships with European founders expanding into the US market.
Rohan supports the team across deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio company operations. He previously worked as a product manager at a Series C enterprise SaaS company and brings strong analytical capabilities to the fund. He holds a BA in Economics and Computer Science from Brown University.
Experienced Advisors in Our Corner
Plakario is supported by a network of seasoned operators and executives who provide domain expertise and portfolio support.
Gregory Lane
Venture Advisor, Enterprise GTM
Former Chief Revenue Officer at two enterprise SaaS companies with combined revenues exceeding $400M. Advises Plakario portfolio companies on go-to-market strategy, enterprise sales architecture, and revenue operations design.
Dr. Priya Nair
Venture Advisor, AI and Machine Learning
Research scientist and ML practitioner with over 15 years of experience in applied AI. Former Director of AI Research at a major technology firm. Provides technical diligence support and advises portfolio companies on AI infrastructure strategy and talent acquisition.
William Ashford
Venture Advisor, Financial Services
Thirty-year career in financial services spanning investment banking, private equity, and fintech investing. Partner-level experience at two top-tier private equity firms. Supports Plakario's fintech and financial infrastructure portfolio with industry relationships and regulatory navigation.
Work With the Team
We Back Founders Who Are Ready to Build
Our door is open. If you are building something in the spaces we care about, we want to hear from you directly and early.