Jon
Lerner
Partner
Engineering geek. Dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs in good times and bad.
I’ve spent 20 years advising businesses on strategy and growth, and over 15 of them at venture stage, specialising in B2B SaaS particularly in infrastructure and Martech. I have learnt that great things take time, that getting the right mix of urgency for things to happen now and the patience for the big win is complicated, and that the more boards I have had the privilege of working with the steeper the learning curve becomes!
“Jon studied our business long before becoming an investor. His insights, experience and knowledge have made us a better company and challenged me to be a better CEO. What I like about Jon the most though, is that he is in the arena with us. “BrianCEO, Masabi
A conversation with Jon
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I love early morning bike rides. It sets the day up for success. Then the best days are when I get a busy mix of getting really stuck into helping entrepreneurs’ thorny issues, learning about new business / industries and fighting to win the right to invest into new business.
What's your favourite challenge to solve in scaling businesses?
I have a sales problem. Or do I? PMF or GTM? It’s the core of most startups focus at the stage we work at, crossing the gap from series A to series B and beyond. The answer is almost always some of both but understanding exactly what and the quickest route to “fix” is critical, interesting and ever-changing.
What gets you excited about a business?
I’m very data oriented. So, I get excited about a big vision with good metrics and a clear grasp of the detail. I like platforms that sit at the heart of organisations and become part of their “beating heart”. Above all else I like momentum and pace of execution – teams that get things done and quickly.
What do you do when you're not supporting great companies?
Mostly look after 3 young kids. It's incredible how they force you to try and become a better version of yourself. I love being outdoors, particularly the mountains in the summer, but road biking is where I spend most of my time. Most importantly there is always another adventure to plan and have.