Mitch Lasky

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Mitch Lasky
Lasky in 2013
Mitch Lasky
BornMitchell Harold Lasky
18 1, 1962
BirthplaceLos Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationVenture capitalist, former video game executive
TitleGeneral Partner
EmployerBenchmark
Children2
AwardsMidas List (Forbes)

Mitchell Harold "Mitch" Lasky (born January 18, 1962) is an American venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and former video game executive who serves as a general partner at the Silicon Valley venture capital firm Benchmark. Over the course of a career that has spanned entertainment, interactive media, and technology investing, Lasky has become one of the most prominent figures at the intersection of gaming and venture capital. He held senior leadership positions at major game publishers, including Activision and Electronic Arts, before transitioning to venture capital in 2007.[1] At Benchmark, he led early investments in companies such as Riot Games, Snap Inc., and Snapchat, establishing a track record that has been described by GamesBeat as that of "the most successful US venture capitalist in games, based on exits such as Riot Games."[2] In 2023, he was appointed to the board of directors of Nexon, a global leader in virtual worlds and online gaming.[3]

Early Life

Mitch Lasky was born on January 18, 1962, in Los Angeles, California.[4] He grew up in the Los Angeles area, where he was exposed to the entertainment industry from an early age. Details about his family background and childhood remain largely private, though public records confirm his birth in Los Angeles.[4]

Education

Lasky attended Harvard College for his undergraduate education.[5] He subsequently earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.[5] His legal education provided a foundation that would prove useful in the business and corporate strategy roles he later held in the entertainment and technology industries.

Career

Entertainment and Early Career

Before entering the video game industry, Lasky worked in the entertainment sector. His early career included roles that connected him to the broader media landscape in Los Angeles, positioning him to recognize the growing potential of interactive entertainment.[6]

Video Game Industry

Activision

Lasky held a senior executive position at Activision, one of the largest video game publishers in the world. During his time at Activision, he gained extensive experience in the business of interactive entertainment, including game publishing, distribution, and franchise development.[6][7]

Electronic Arts

Lasky subsequently joined Electronic Arts (EA), where he served as a senior executive. At EA, he was involved in the company's efforts to expand into mobile and digital gaming. His tenure at the company coincided with a period of significant transformation in the video game industry, as publishers began to grapple with the shift from physical retail distribution to digital platforms and the emergence of mobile gaming as a major market segment.[1]

After his departure from EA, Lasky publicly commented on the company's strategic direction. In a widely noted interview, he stated that "EA is in the wrong business," arguing that the traditional publisher model was facing existential challenges from the rise of digital distribution and free-to-play business models.[8] This perspective reflected a broader thesis that Lasky would carry into his venture capital career — that game publishers would need to fundamentally evolve their business models to survive in the changing landscape of interactive entertainment.

Lasky stepped down from his position at EA in March 2007 to join the venture capital firm Benchmark.[1]

Industry Advocacy

Throughout his time in the video game industry, Lasky was an outspoken advocate on issues affecting the sector. He publicly spoke out against state regulation of video games, arguing against legislative efforts to restrict the sale or content of games.[9] He also participated in major industry events, including the DICE Summit, where he was a featured speaker.[7]

Venture Capital at Benchmark

In 2007, Lasky joined Benchmark, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm, as a general partner.[1] At Benchmark, he focused on investments in gaming, consumer technology, and digital entertainment, bringing his deep industry expertise to bear on identifying promising startups and emerging platforms.

Gaming Investments

Lasky's investment portfolio at Benchmark reflected his background in and understanding of the gaming industry. Among his most notable investments was Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, one of the most commercially successful and culturally influential video games ever created. The investment in Riot Games became one of the most successful venture capital exits in the gaming sector, as Riot was ultimately acquired by Tencent.[2] GamesBeat described Lasky as "the most successful US venture capitalist in games, based on exits such as Riot Games."[2]

His gaming-related investments at Benchmark also included Gaikai, a cloud gaming platform on whose board he served.[10] Gaikai was subsequently acquired by Sony for $380 million and became the technological foundation for PlayStation Now, Sony's game streaming service.

Other gaming-related investments in Lasky's portfolio included Red Robot Labs, a mobile gaming company focused on location-based games, which raised $8.5 million in a round in which Benchmark participated;[11] PlayFab, a live games platform in which Benchmark led a $7.4 million round;[12] and portfolio companies such as Manticore Games and thatgamecompany.[13]

In a 2012 interview with GamesBeat, Lasky articulated his view that traditional game publishers faced an existential reckoning, stating that they would need to "evolve or die" in the face of digital disruption, free-to-play models, and the rise of mobile platforms.[14][15] This thesis, which he first began developing during his time at EA, proved prescient as the industry underwent significant consolidation and transformation in the following decade. In 2025, he revisited and expanded on these themes in a new interview with GamesBeat, reaffirming his view that the traditional publishing model was under severe pressure.[16]

Technology Investments

Beyond gaming, Lasky made a number of notable investments in the broader technology sector during his tenure at Benchmark. Among the most prominent was Snap Inc., the parent company of Snapchat. Benchmark led Snapchat's $13.5 million Series A funding round in February 2013, and Lasky joined the company's board of directors in December 2012.[17] The Snap investment became one of the most significant venture capital returns in Silicon Valley history after the company's initial public offering in March 2017. Lasky served on Snap's board until 2018, when it was reported that he would not stand for re-election.[18]

Other technology investments led or supported by Lasky at Benchmark included Engine Yard, a Ruby on Rails platform company that received a $3.5 million investment from Benchmark;[19] CyanogenMod, the open-source Android-based operating system that raised $7 million in a round backed by Benchmark;[20] and Ubiquity6, an augmented reality startup that raised a $27 million Series B.[21]

Views on AI in Gaming

In 2025, Lasky participated in strategic discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in video games alongside other industry leaders, including Owen Mahoney (former CEO of Nexon), Bing Gordon (adviser at Kleiner Perkins), and Tynan Sylvester. The discussion, covered by GamesBeat, explored the implications of AI for game development, player experience, and the economics of game production.[22]

Board Memberships

In addition to his role at Benchmark, Lasky has served on the boards of directors of several companies. He served on the board of Snap Inc. from December 2012 until 2018.[18] He also served on the board of Gaikai prior to its acquisition by Sony.[10]

In March 2023, Lasky was appointed to the board of directors of Nexon Co., Ltd., a Tokyo-listed global gaming company described by Business Wire as "a global leader in Virtual Worlds."[3] The appointment reflected his continued engagement with the global gaming industry and his reputation as a leading authority on the business of interactive entertainment.

Personal Life

Lasky resides in California with his wife, Cecilia Barajas.[23] The couple has two children, including a son named Benjamin.[5] In December 2020, Lasky and Barajas purchased a property on Broad Beach in Malibu, California, in a transaction reported to be valued at approximately $40 million.[24] The report noted that the couple had "a well-documented affinity for big residential compounds."[24]

Recognition

Lasky has been recognized as one of the leading venture capitalists in the United States. He has been included on the Forbes Midas List, an annual ranking of the top technology investors.[13] His portfolio profile on Forbes highlighted his background as a "former gaming entrepreneur" with investments in game studios such as Manticore Games and thatgamecompany.[13]

His status as a leading voice in gaming and technology investing has led to frequent invitations to speak at major industry events, including the DICE Summit.[7] He has been interviewed and profiled by publications including TechCrunch, Forbes, GamesBeat, VentureBeat, GamesIndustry.biz, and Recode.

GamesBeat described him in 2025 as "the most successful US venture capitalist in games," citing his exits from investments in companies such as Riot Games.[2]

Legacy

Mitch Lasky's career has spanned two distinct but interconnected phases: senior leadership in the video game publishing industry, and venture capital investing in gaming and consumer technology. His transition from executive roles at Activision and Electronic Arts to Benchmark placed him at the forefront of a generation of investors who brought deep operational expertise in specific industries to the venture capital profession.

His investment in Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, represented one of the most successful venture capital outcomes in the gaming industry. His early investment in Snapchat through Benchmark's Series A round in 2013, combined with his service on the company's board, positioned him at the center of one of the defining consumer technology companies of the 2010s.[17][18]

Lasky's public commentary on the evolution of the gaming industry — particularly his recurring thesis that traditional publishers must "evolve or die" — has influenced discourse about business models in interactive entertainment.[14][16] His views on the disruptive potential of digital distribution, free-to-play economics, and mobile gaming anticipated structural changes that reshaped the industry in the 2010s and 2020s.

His 2023 appointment to the board of Nexon and his 2025 participation in discussions about AI in gaming indicate a continued engagement with the strategic questions facing the interactive entertainment industry.[3][22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Lasky steps down at EA, joins VC firm".RCR Wireless.http://www.rcrwireless.com/article/20070320/sub/lasky-steps-down-at-ea-joins-vc-firm/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The new normal for the game economy and investments | Mitch Lasky and Eric Goldberg".GamesBeat.July 16, 2025.https://gamesbeat.com/the-new-normal-for-the-game-economy-and-investments-mitch-lasky-and-eric-goldberg/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Mitch Lasky and Junghun Lee Appointed to Serve on Nexon's Board of Directors".Business Wire.March 24, 2023.https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230324005316/en/Mitch-Lasky-and-Junghun-Lee-Appointed-to-Serve-on-Nexons-Board-of-Directors.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Mitchell Harold Lasky birth record".FamilySearch.https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V216-6KH.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Mitch Lasky Executive Profile".Bloomberg Businessweek.https://web.archive.org/web/20130728233337/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=7960873&privcapId=19153&previousCapId=19153&previousTitle=Benchmark%20Capital.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Mitch Lasky Biography".All American Speakers.http://www.allamericanspeakers.com/celebritytalentbios/Mitch-Lasky.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "DICE Summit Speakers — Mitch Lasky".DICE Summit.http://www.dicesummit.org/dice_speakers/details.asp?idSpeaker=51.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Former EA Exec Lasky: EA Is In The Wrong Business".Gamasutra.http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/117744/Former_EA_Exec_Lasky_EA_Is_In_The_Wrong_Business.php.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Mitch Lasky speaks out against state regulation of videogames".GamesIndustry.biz.http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/mitch-lasky-speaks-out-against-state-regulation-of-videogames.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Gaikai Board of Directors".Gaikai.https://web.archive.org/web/20120902084846/http://www.gaikai.com/board.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Red Robot Labs raises $8.5M for location-based mobile gaming".VentureBeat.September 14, 2011.https://venturebeat.com/2011/09/14/red-robot-labs-raises-8-5m-for-location-based-mobile-gaming/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Benchmark leads $7.4 million round in live games platform PlayFab".Recode.February 27, 2015.https://recode.net/2015/02/27/benchmark-leads-7-4-million-round-in-live-games-platform-playfab/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Mitch Lasky".Forbes.April 2, 2019.https://www.forbes.com/profile/mitch-lasky/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Benchmark's Mitch Lasky on the future of publishing".GamesIndustry.biz.July 18, 2012.http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-07-18-benchmarks-mitch-lasky-on-the-future-of-publishing.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Benchmark's Mitch Lasky: Game publishers will evolve or die (interview)".VentureBeat.July 17, 2012.https://venturebeat.com/2012/07/17/mitch-lasky-game-publishers-will-evolve-or-die-interview/view-all/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Benchmark's Mitch Lasky: Game publishers will evolve or die (interview)".GamesBeat.July 2, 2025.https://gamesbeat.com/mitch-lasky-game-publishers-will-evolve-or-die-interview/2/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Snapchat Raises $13.5M Series A Led By Benchmark — Now Sees 60M Snaps Sent Per Day".TechCrunch.February 8, 2013.https://techcrunch.com/2013/02/08/snapchat-raises-13-5m-series-a-led-by-benchmark-now-sees-60m-snaps-sent-per-day/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Benchmark's Mitch Lasky will reportedly step down from Snap's board of directors".TechCrunch.June 29, 2018.https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/29/benchmarks-mitch-lasky-will-reportedly-step-down-from-snaps-board-of-directors/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Benchmark bets on Ruby on Rails with $3.5 million investment in Engine Yard".TechCrunch.January 11, 2008.https://techcrunch.com/2008/01/11/benchmark-bets-on-ruby-on-rails-with-35-million-investment-in-engine-yard/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "CyanogenMod raises $7M from Benchmark and others".TechCrunch.September 18, 2013.https://techcrunch.com/2013/09/18/cyanogen-mod-7m-benchmark/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "AR startup Ubiquity6 lands $27M Series B to build a more user-friendly augmented reality".TechCrunch.August 14, 2018.https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/14/ar-startup-ubiquity6-lands-27m-series-b-to-build-a-more-user-friendly-augmented-reality/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "AI in games: A strategic discussion by Owen Mahoney, Mitch Lasky, Bing Gordon and Tynan Sylvester".GamesBeat.July 23, 2025.https://gamesbeat.com/ai-in-games-a-strategic-discussion-by-owen-mahoney-mitch-lasky-bing-gordon-and-tynan-sylvester/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Mitchell Harold Lasky marriage record".FamilySearch.https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK98-DB5M.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Venture Capitalist Mitch Lasky Drops $40 Million on Malibu's Broad Beach".Yahoo Entertainment.December 1, 2020.https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/venture-capitalist-mitch-lasky-drops-181556850.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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