Ascent Promotes Partner

Ascent Venture Partners, an early-stage venture firm focusing on East Coast enterprise tech investing, has promoted Luke Burns to partner. Since joining Ascent in 2006, Burns has focused on advanced computing, IT security, and mobility, and currently serves on the board of Knoa Software. Ascent manages five venture funds with total commitments of more than $450 million, and is located in Boston, Mass.

PRESS RELEASE

Ascent Venture Partners, an early-stage venture firm at the forefront of East Coast enterprise tech investing, today announced the promotion of Luke Burns to Partner. Since joining Ascent in 2006, Burns has focused on advanced computing, IT security, and mobility, and currently serves on the board of Knoa Software. He also is actively involved with Ascent portfolio companies Verivo, ViLabs, and Everyday Solutions.

Burns came to Ascent in 2006 with a broad range of operational, consulting and financial experiences across the software and Internet sectors. Until 2006 he was a management consultant with Bain & Company, where he provided strategy and M&A advisory to clients in the high tech and pharmaceutical sectors. Before Bain, he was co-founder and CEO of e-commerce software provider Emercis Corporation, which was acquired by Impressa, Inc. in 2000.

“Since Luke joined us he has demonstrated a keen strategic understanding and strong focus for supporting early-stage enterprise IT entrepreneurs,” said Geoff Oblak, General Partner at Ascent Venture Partners. “Luke’s entrepreneurial background is a great asset for the firm and for the companies we back. He is trustworthy, approachable, and is committed to cultivating the innovators and entrepreneurs who have the potential to form market-leading companies.”

“At Ascent I’ve been privileged to invest in technology that will shape the enterprise of the future, and to work alongside some of the smartest people in the venture capital field,” Burns said. “I look forward to continuing to work with companies at the forefront of technology innovation, and ensuring they have the resources they need to build strong companies and realize successful outcomes.”

Burns graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude with an AB in chemistry and physics, and holds an MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Burns also serves as an advisory board member of St. Stephen’s Youth Programs, which offers enrichment programs to the youth of Boston’s and Chelsea’s lower income neighborhoods.

About Ascent Venture Partners
Ascent Venture Partners is dedicated to investing in innovation for the enterprise. In backing more than 100 early-stage, emerging technology companies since 1985, Ascent has remained committed to its mission of partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs striving to build innovative market leaders. Ascent’s investments have yielded powerful results generating more than $10 billion in enterprise value, which speaks to the firm’s deep knowledge, experience, commitment, and networks. The Ascent investment team manages five venture funds with total commitments of more than $450 million, and is located in Boston, Mass.