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Managing Partner
Elevate Ventures
Matt Tyner Jr. in less than three years has helped Elevate Ventures become the most active venture capitalist in the Great Lakes region and among the top 20 globally. His work has contributed to more than 200 deals involving more than $50 million in venture capital. He also helped launch a $150 million growth fund for Indiana, a first for the state. And he spearheaded initiatives such as Elevate+, which has resulted in partnerships with more than 50 technology and service providers for early-stage companies, and Elevate Talent, which supports the hiring of strategic roles at a fixed and reduced rate for Elevate’s portfolio companies. Both initiatives aim to provide resources to startups beyond just capital. “I get the opportunity,” Tyner said of his role, “to interface with the best and brightest risk-takers and innovators in our state, helping them navigate their journey by sharing best practices and lived experiences from a financial and operating perspective. I can’t think of a better opportunity to serve my community than this one.”
Getting here: The Great Recession stymied hopes of a Wall Street banking career after Tyner earned his MBA. Instead, he worked in public accounting in Carmel. But about two years later, he took a chance with a marketing technology startup, which later became SmarterHQ. A vice president there, he helped lead seed-funding efforts and later the company’s sale to Wunderkind. He followed, helping to quadruple employee growth for Wunderkind in Indianapolis.
First job: concession stand manager for Butler University sport camps
Givebacks: member of the corporate work study board at Providence Cristo Rey High School, member of the Capital Policy Committee for the Indiana Technology & Innovation Association
Influential person: Mentor Karen Corsaro, a former Simon Property Group executive turned technology angel investor
Meaningful moment: “From a relatively young age in my career, I was afforded great responsibility … opportunities to sink or swim that truly defined who I am today professionally,” he said. “It was in those moments where fear led to hard work and learning at an exponential rate that ultimately led to the confidence to stand behind my decisions as a leader.”•
Check out more Forty Under 40 honorees.
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This clown wants to sell us debt.He wants to become a bank with our money.
Why is IEDC forming a Cayman Island fund called Project Energy Reinagined accused of stealing $50M from China and buys Wejo, an ilegal product.