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Mike Ravenscroft
Director
MACH37
I serve as a Director of the MACH37 Cyber Accelerator and an Investment Associate for CIT GAP Funds. I am responsible for sourcing, diligence, and closing of seed and early stage investments on behalf of MACH37 and CIT.
(989) 493-3984
a little about me
As Director of MACH37 and Investment Associate with CIT GAP, I've worked with entrepreneurs on both sides of the funding fence. Through my work with the EMERGE First Responders Accelerator, the Smart City Works Business Actuator, and MACH37, I've coached entrepreneurs across numerous sectors and helped them build high growth businesses and secure downstream investment. At CIT GAP, my team and I make Seed Stage investments in Virginia startup technology companies. We identify promising entrepreneurs with potentially disruptive technology and help them launch their businesses.
Growth
WHAT I LOVE
I helped launch the EMERGE program, the first federally-sponsored accelerator for technology companies developing products for first responders. Over three cohorts I helped develop a network of first responders and industry technology partners, as well as refined the program to provide non-dilutive funding for participating startups. I helped launch the inaugural cohort of the Smart City Works Business Actuator, an accelerator program for early stage startups developing technologies for the built environment. As Director of MACH37, I've worked to source innovative cybersecurity startups from the US and abroad, helped entrepreneurs secure downstream investment, and helped build out a mentor network of over 250 cybersecurity professionals. I've served on panels for TechBreakfast, National Science Foundation, and startup pitch competitions.
my why
What I really love is getting into the weeds with entrepreneurs and working with them to test assumptions, understand customer pain points, get educated on their target market, and figure out what questions they need to be asking. I'm eager to provide any support that I can to help foster entrepreneurship in the region and help early stage ventures grow their business.