Seattle Startup Ecosystem: Madrona Venture Labs

Join us for a discussion with Seattle Startup Gurus: Mike Fridgen (HBS MBA ‘03) - Managing Director of Madrona Venture Labs, Matt McIlwain (HBS MBA ‘92) - Managing Director of Madrona Ventures, Jay Goyal (HBS MBA xx) CEO of mental health startup Alongside, and Mia Lewin – Founder/CEO of Style Genome (acquired by Wayfair) and board member of Climb Credit, Wescover, and DVx Ventures.

Our discussion will center around MVL’s and its Founders experiences building tech-driven, industry-shaping businesses across the Pacific Northwest, hosted at Madrona Venture Labs, Downtown Seattle.

Light refreshments and networking to follow.

We are pleased to invite our HBS and Harvard University, their partners/guests and alumni of select peer business schools.

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 8:00pm
Place: 999 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor, Seattle, WA 98104

About Mike Fridgen (HBS MBA ‘03)

Mike, Managing Director of Madrona Venture Labs (MVL), co-founded multiple MVL studio funds, backing 32 companies with a total funding of $261m and valuation of $629m. Previously, he led Decide, acquired by eBay, and served as eBay's GM in Seattle. Before that, Mike was the founding VP of Product & Marketing at Farecast, acquired by Microsoft for $115m. He has been involved in venture-backed consumer technology companies since the late 90s and serves on the board of the University of Washington's Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. Mike holds degrees from the University of Washington and HBS.

About Matt McIlwain (HBS MBA ‘92)

Matt, a venture capitalist at Madrona, specializes in guiding founders using machine learning and cloud computing. With a background in Genuine Parts Company and McKinsey & Company, he emphasizes curiosity and adaptability. Outside work, Matt serves on boards and enjoys family time. He holds degrees from Dartmouth College, HBS, and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

About Jay Goyal (HBS MBA ‘07)

Jay, an experienced entrepreneur and CEO, is dedicated to addressing adolescent mental health issues. He founded Actively Learn, a prominent educational platform, and led product management at Microsoft's Bing Mobile division. With diverse experience spanning microfinance to aviation security, Jay brings a unique perspective to his mission-driven work. As Founder and CEO of Alongside, he continues to drive meaningful change in education and technology, focusing on the adolescent mental health crisis. He holds degrees from Duke University and HBS.

About Mia Lewin

Mia is a seasoned multi-time founder, tech executive, and board member. Serving on the boards of Climb Credit and Wescover, as well as the non-profit board of IDO, she champions growth and innovation in the tech and startup ecosystem. With 20 years of experience, Mia has founded and scaled startups, raised substantial funding, and orchestrated successful exits, while prioritizing positive social and environmental impact. She holds degrees from ESCP Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business.