Mike Fridgen joined Madrona as a venture partner in 2025, following nine years as the managing director of Madrona Venture Labs, the firm’s former startup studio and incubation partner.
Journey to Madrona
Mike’s partnership with Madrona began in the late 1990s when the firm backed his first startup. Over the next decade, he was instrumental in launching three consumer tech ventures with Madrona’s support, including serving as the founding head of product at Farecast (acquired by Microsoft) and the founding CEO of Decide (acquired by eBay).
As the founder and managing director of multiple Madrona venture studio funds, Mike helped launch and invest in over 30 startups. Together, these companies raised more than $270 million and achieved a combined valuation exceeding $700 million.
Lessons learned
- Success often comes from subtracting, not adding.
- Markets determine scale; founders determine survival.
- Great ideas are uncovered, not invented.
When he’s not in the office…
Mike is passionate about family adventure travel, having embarked on 10 trips over the past 10 years, covering all 7 continents. He enjoys practicing yoga with his wife, Jenn, exploring Pacific Northwest nature trails with his daughter, and traveling to the East Coast to watch his son play college baseball.
Noteworthy
Mike has advised numerous early-stage founders and companies, currently serves on the board of Otto the Agent, and is a member of the LPAC at Pack VC. He earned degrees from the University of Washington and Harvard Business School and is a board member of the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Washington.