Mark Goines

Mark Goines is a distinguished Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, a prominent multi-stage venture capital firm based in Menlo Park. With a career spanning several decades, Goines brings extensive operational and strategic expertise to his investment activities, primarily focusing on financial technology, mobile, consumer, and small business internet services. His role at Lightspeed involves identifying and nurturing high-growth companies from their early stages, leveraging his deep industry insights to guide portfolio companies towards significant market impact.

Goines' investment thesis is heavily informed by his robust operational background. Prior to joining Lightspeed in 2011, he held senior executive positions at leading financial and consumer technology companies, including Executive Vice President of the Consumer Group at Intuit, and Senior Vice President roles at Charles Schwab and Wells Fargo. This firsthand experience in product development, marketing, and scaling consumer-facing financial services provides him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within his target sectors. He is particularly adept at identifying disruptive technologies and business models that can redefine how consumers and small businesses interact with financial services and digital platforms.

Within Lightspeed's diverse portfolio, Mark Goines has been instrumental in backing several successful ventures. Notable investments and board affiliations include fintech innovators like Affirm, which went public, and Wealthfront, which was acquired by UBS. Other significant companies in his portfolio include Blend, Hippo, and Nium, underscoring his consistent focus on companies that leverage technology to enhance financial accessibility and efficiency. As a Partner at Lightspeed, his typical first check into a company generally ranges from approximately $3 million for early-stage opportunities to upwards of $20 million for more developed Series A or B rounds, reflecting Lightspeed's multi-stage investment strategy and substantial capital base, which manages over $25 billion in assets.

Goines is recognized for his hands-on approach, often serving on the boards of his portfolio companies and providing strategic guidance on product-market fit, scaling operations, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. His long tenure and successful track record at Lightspeed, combined with his deep operational roots, make him a valuable partner for founders seeking to build enduring businesses in the fintech and consumer internet spaces.