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    BPI Expert Faculty

    Marco Rubin

    Senior Investment Director

    Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.He is known for sourcing, diligencing, and closing seed and early-stage investments for technology companies.
    • 2.Throughout his career, he has invested in over 200 early-stage startups across diverse sectors like aerospace, energy, and software.
    • 3.He manages the Commonwealth Energy Fund and serves as a board representative for numerous portfolio companies.
    • 4.He launched MCI’s New Ventures, the company's venture capital unit, and founded Monumental Venture Partners, LLC.

    About Marco

    Marco Rubin is a seasoned venture capitalist and BPI Expert Faculty member, renowned for his expertise in seed and early-stage technology investments across diverse sectors.

    Who is Marco Rubin?

    Marco Rubin serves as a Senior Investment Director at the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), where he focuses on sourcing, diligence, and closing seed and early-stage investments for the CIT GAP Funds, which CBInsights has recognized as "Virginia's Most Active Investor." He also manages the Commonwealth Energy Fund.

    Rubin is recognized for his leadership in technology investment, particularly in aerospace/UAS, energy, and software sectors. His career is distinguished by his involvement in funds consistently ranked among Entrepreneur Magazine's annual VC100 list, contributing significantly to the landscape of early-stage venture capital.

    Quick facts about Marco Rubin

    | | |---|---| | Role | Senior Investment Director | | Company | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) | | Based in | Virginia | | Expertise | Venture Capital, Early-Stage Technology Investment, Portfolio Management | | Notable for | Investing in over 200 early-stage startups, leadership roles in VC100-ranked funds, managing the Commonwealth Energy Fund | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is Marco Rubin known for?

    • Sourcing and closing seed and early-stage investments for tech companies.
    • Managing the Commonwealth Energy Fund.
    • Serving as a board representative for numerous portfolio companies.
    • Launching and leading venture capital units, including MCI’s New Ventures and Monumental Venture Partners.
    • Mentoring entrepreneurs and judging global business plan competitions sponsored by the World Bank and the State Department.
    • Advising on broadband coverage in Indian Country through a contract with the US Department of Commerce.

    What is Marco Rubin's background and experience?

    Rubin began his career as an engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center, where he trained and certified astronauts and flight controllers. He then transitioned to Booz Allen & Hamilton, serving as a project leader for clients such as Mobil Oil and NASA, focusing on energy, telecommunications, and information technology industries. He later launched MCI's New Ventures, the company's venture capital unit, which saw successful exits to Cisco and Alcatel.

    Following his tenure at MCI, Rubin founded Monumental Venture Partners, LLC, which achieved significant portfolio company acquisitions by Dolby Labs and Level 3 Communications in the security, information technology, telecommunications, software, and medical devices sectors. He also leads Exoventure Associates, LLC, which focuses on emerging market activities. He holds an MBA from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. Rubin has been a National Science Foundation commercial reviewer since 2007 and is a former NSF SBIR grant winner. He has invested in over 200 early-stage startups throughout his career.

    What topics does Marco Rubin speak and write about?

    Marco Rubin focuses on the dynamics of early-stage technology investments, covering topics such as venture capital strategies, seed funding, and managing portfolios within rapidly evolving sectors like aerospace/UAS, energy, and software. His insights extend to the full lifecycle of a startup, from initial diligence to successful exits.

    Rubin also addresses the unique challenges and opportunities within emerging markets, drawing from his experience in leading Exoventure Associates and advising on projects like the broadband survey in Indian Country. He frequently shares expertise on how to identify and nurture promising technological innovations that drive economic growth and competitive advantage.

    How does Marco Rubin contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    Marco Rubin is an Expert Faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, lending his extensive knowledge in venture capital and early-stage technology investment to BPI's mission of fostering leadership and organizational excellence. His contributions align with BPI's focus on innovation and strategic growth, particularly in how cutting-edge technologies and robust investment strategies can cultivate high-performing, innovative workplaces that embody the principles of a Most Loved Workplace®.

    Where can you learn more from Marco Rubin?

    Insights from Marco Rubin's extensive experience in venture capital and technology investment are available through his work with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation and Exoventure Associates. His role as a BPI Expert Faculty member also highlights his commitment to sharing best practices in innovation and strategic growth within the professional investment community.

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Marco Rubin is a Senior Investment Director at the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), focusing on seed and early-stage investments for the CIT GAP Funds. His career began as an engineer at NASA Johnson Space Center, training astronauts and flight controllers. He later became a project leader at Booz Allen & Hamilton, advising clients in the energy, telecommunications, and IT industries.

    Mr. Rubin has extensive experience launching and leading venture capital initiatives. He started MCI's venture capital unit, New Ventures, which led to successful exits to Cisco and Alcatel. He also founded Monumental Venture Partners, LLC, which saw portfolio company acquisitions by Dolby Labs and Level 3 Communications. Additionally, he leads Exoventure Associates, LLC, focusing on emerging market activities. He holds an MBA from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico.

    Areas of Expertise

    Marco Rubin specializes in venture capital and early-stage technology investment. His key areas of expertise include:

    • Venture Capital: Sourcing, diligence, and closing investments.
    • Portfolio Management: Serving as a board representative and managing funds like the Commonwealth Energy Fund.
    • Technology Sectors: Aerospace/UAS, energy, enterprise software, security, telecommunications, and medical devices.
    • New Ventures: Launching and leading corporate and independent venture funds.
    • Emerging Markets: Advising on technology and infrastructure projects.

    Topics Covered

    Marco Rubin speaks and writes about the full lifecycle of early-stage technology investments, from initial diligence to successful exits. He covers topics such as venture capital strategies, seed funding, and portfolio management in rapidly evolving sectors. He also addresses the challenges and opportunities in emerging markets, drawing from his experience with Exoventure Associates and his advisory work for the US Department of Commerce.

    Areas of Expertise

    Venture CapitalEarly-Stage InvestmentTechnology InvestmentPortfolio ManagementNew VenturesEmerging MarketsAerospace/UAS

    Research Topics

    Venture CapitalInnovationTechnology Investment

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