Mitch Lasky

Mitch Lasky is an American venture capitalist and technology executive, best known for his early-stage investments in several iconic video game and social media companies. As a general partner at Benchmark Capital, he played a pivotal role in funding and guiding the growth of firms like Riot Games, Snap Inc., and Epic Games. His career spans executive roles at major entertainment software firms and influential positions on the boards of numerous technology startups.

Early life and education

Lasky earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He subsequently attended Harvard Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor degree, laying the foundation for his early career in corporate law and business development within the technology sector.

Career

His professional journey began in the legal field before transitioning into the video game industry. Lasky served as the Chief Executive Officer of entertainment software publisher Crystal Dynamics, a subsidiary of Eidos Interactive. He later co-founded and served as CEO of JAMDAT Mobile, a pioneer in mobile games which was acquired by Electronic Arts and rebranded as EA Mobile. Following the acquisition, he held an executive role at Electronic Arts, contributing to its mobile strategy before moving into venture capital.

Venture capital and investments

Lasky joined the venture capital firm Benchmark Capital as a general partner, where he established a focus on interactive entertainment and consumer technology. His most notable investments include leading Series A funding rounds for Riot Games, the developer of the globally successful *League of Legends*, and for Snap Inc., the creator of the Snapchat application. He was also an early investor in Epic Games, the company behind the Unreal Engine and the cultural phenomenon *Fortnite*. His investment thesis often centered on identifying foundational platforms and disruptive social networking services, with other portfolio companies including Gaikai, a cloud gaming service acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Thatgamecompany, developer of acclaimed titles like *Journey*.

Board memberships and advisory roles

Lasky has held influential board positions at many of the companies he backed. He served on the board of directors at Riot Games for over a decade, guiding it through its acquisition by Tencent and its subsequent growth. He was also a board member at Snap Inc., advising through its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. His other board roles have included positions at Epic Games, Gaikai, and Thatgamecompany. Furthermore, he has served as a board observer for Unity Technologies, the widely used game engine provider.

Personal life

Lasky maintains a relatively private personal life. He is known to be an avid enthusiast of video games and interactive media, interests that have directly informed his professional investment focus. He occasionally shares insights on industry trends through public speaking engagements and has been a featured speaker at events like the DICE Summit. Category:American venture capitalists Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni