Blake Clifton

Blake Clifton is the Vice President and Head of Corporate Development at Marqeta, Inc., a leading fintech company specializing in card issuing and payment processing. He has a robust background in corporate development, investment banking, and climate finance, which he leverages to drive strategic growth initiatives at Marqeta.

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Arts in English from Davidson College
• Master of Business Administration from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia

Professional Experience

• Early Career: Blake began his career as an analyst at Stephens Inc., followed by a role as an M&A analyst at Thomas Weisel Partners.
• Investment Roles: He served as an associate at Liberty Partners and later became the Principal of the Climate Leaders Fund at Hastings Funds Management. He also held a principal position at Abundant Power Group.
• Banking Experience: Prior to joining Marqeta, Blake spent over seven years in technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) banking at Wells Fargo, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions.
• Corporate Development: Before his current role at Marqeta, he was involved in corporate development at Cognizant Technology Solutions, specifically within their M&A practice.

Role at Marqeta

Blake joined Marqeta in December 2021 as part of a strategic initiative to enhance the company's corporate development capabilities. His responsibilities include identifying and executing mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and other growth opportunities. Under his leadership, Marqeta has seen significant increases in inbound investment and acquisition opportunities since its IPO in June 2021. Notably, he played a key role in the company's acquisition of Power for $275 million, marking a significant milestone for Marqeta.12

Blake's approach emphasizes building strong relationships within the industry and maintaining open lines of communication with potential partners and targets. He advocates for proactive market mapping to ensure awareness of relevant players in the fintech space.3

In summary, Blake Clifton's extensive experience in finance and corporate development positions him as a pivotal figure in Marqeta's growth strategy within the competitive fintech landscape.