Mike Lyons is a seasoned venture capitalist and a key figure in the technology and investment sectors. As a co-founder of Zilkha Venture Partners, he successfully sourced investments yielding returns of 5.8 times, placing the firm in the top 5 percentile as rated by Cambridge Associates. His extensive venture capital experience includes roles as a Venture Partner at DFJ/ePlanet I & II and Paladin Capital Group, where he contributed to deals generating over $50 billion in market value.

Mike’s leadership extends beyond venture capital; he has served as CEO, Chairman, or in C-suite positions across 12 companies. His tenure as Manager of the Controls Systems Group at Lockheed-Martin Palo Alto Research Lab spanned 15 years, emphasizing his deep technical and leadership expertise.

Additionally, Mike has been deeply involved in education and professional development. He served as an Adjunct Professor at Stanford School of Engineering and co-founded several executive education programs at Stanford Center for Professional Development, including the Idea to Market online program (I2M). He is also a Price-Babson Fellow in Entrepreneurship Education.

Educationally, Mike holds a BS/MS in Engineering Physics from Cornell University, an MSEE from Stanford University, and an Executive MBA cum laude from Pepperdine University. His aviation credentials include ATP Multi-Engine (ATPME), Certified Flight Instructor Airplane Instrument Multi-Engine (CFIAIME), and he has experience as a line instructor at Flight Safety International.