April 3, 2016

Mark Luecke, Managing Director and CEO, has 20 years of experience in starting, leading, advising, and successfully exiting technology and other growth-oriented companies.  He was raised on a small farm in South Dakota, graduated with honors from the University of South Dakota’s School of Business, and earned his Certificate of Public Accounting while advising his clients at a global accounting and consulting firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Mark was recruited by one of his largest clients where he co-managed the acquisition of 25 businesses and $1 billion in annual revenue.  Following the consolidation of these businesses, Mark started a new business unit that generated over $100 million of new revenue with its partners, completed the turn-around of another business unit, and was named Vice President, Services.  The company exited to a Fortune 500 manufacturer, where Mark served as Global Services Vice President.  Successfully transitioning back to his entrepreneurial roots, Mark served as President and Chief Operating Officer of a private equity firm and Managing Director of an investment banking firm in Denver, Colorado where he started, provided leadership, advised, and exited a diversified portfolio of companies.  Mark was recruited back to South Dakota to start Innovation Partners, an early stage venture capital firm, where he serves as Managing Director and CEO.  Innovation Partners provides executive leadership to portfolio companies, such as Prairie AquaTech, supporting $50+ million in debt, equity, and grant financing activities, a large patent estate, new jobs and strategic partnerships.  Mark serves on the board of a number of organizations, competes in triathlons and other outdoor activities, and was recently named to Prairie Business Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.