Adam Nelson

Adam Nelson is the Managing Director at FirstMark Capital, a prominent venture capital firm based in New York City. He has been in this role since July 2019, focusing on investments primarily in fintech and vertical software, with a notable interest in early-stage companies. His investment range typically spans from $250,000 to $10 million, with a sweet spot around $5 million.15

Background and Career

Before joining FirstMark, Nelson had a significant career trajectory in both venture capital and technology. He was a Partner at Social Capital, where he concentrated on early-stage investments in enterprise SaaS and marketplaces. His previous roles include being a Venture Partner at South Park Commons and working in business development at Dropbox, where he led the Partner Network and Revenue Partnerships teams. He also has experience in investment banking and private equity from his time at Merrill Lynch and Lindsay Goldberg.245

Education

Adam holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Brown University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.25

Contributions and Philosophy

Nelson is known for his hands-on approach to investing, emphasizing deep partnerships with founders. He is also involved in community building within the fintech sector, having established "Fintech Driven," a private community for fintech leaders in New York City. He has coined the term "Negative CAC," referring to a strategy that allows companies to acquire new customers at no marginal cost.354

His work at FirstMark Capital reflects a commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in navigating complex markets and leveraging technology to solve significant problems.45