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Ben Marcus is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of UP.Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Santa Monica, California. In this executive role, he oversees a $250 million debut fund dedicated to investing in startups developing aerospace, next-generation mobility technologies, and transportation infrastructure. He also co-founded the exclusive annual UP.Summit mobility conference and previously launched AirMap, a digital drone airspace management platform acquired by DroneUp in December 2021. Before his venture capital career, Marcus served as the Chief Executive Officer of jetAVIVA, a light jet brokerage firm he co-founded after earning a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University. An FAA-certified commercial pilot and flight instructor, Marcus centers his current investment focus on advancing electric vertical takeoff aircraft, autonomous delivery systems, and innovations making transportation cleaner, faster, safer, and more cost-effective.
Ben Marcus stands as a pivotal figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Partner at UP.Partners. This firm is uniquely positioned at the forefront of the future of mobility, investing in groundbreaking technologies and companies that are redefining how the world moves. As a key leader at UP.Partners, Ben Marcus plays an instrumental role in identifying, nurturing, and scaling ventures poised to revolutionize transportation, logistics, and beyond.
His investment philosophy is deeply rooted in his extensive entrepreneurial background and profound understanding of complex technological ecosystems. Ben Marcus primarily focuses on companies operating within the broad spectrum of mobility, which includes aerospace, logistics, supply chain innovation, and sustainable infrastructure. He seeks out deep tech solutions that promise to enhance efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and create entirely new paradigms for movement of people and goods. This includes everything from advanced air mobility and autonomous systems to next-generation supply chain platforms and resilient infrastructure technologies.
Before joining UP.Partners, Ben Marcus built a distinguished career as a visionary founder and operator. He is widely recognized as the co-founder and CEO of AirMap, a pioneering company that developed critical airspace management solutions for drones. Under his leadership, AirMap became a global leader in drone traffic management, eventually being acquired by Woven by Toyota, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. Prior to AirMap, Ben also co-founded another significant drone services company, which was later acquired by Google. These experiences provided him with invaluable insights into scaling technology companies, navigating regulatory environments, and building impactful products in nascent industries.
Ben's journey began with a strong foundation in aviation, an area where he has maintained a lifelong passion and expertise. This deep domain knowledge, combined with his track record as a successful entrepreneur, makes him a uniquely qualified investor. He brings not just capital, but also strategic guidance, operational mentorship, and a founder-first perspective to the companies he backs. His ability to understand the intricate challenges and opportunities within the mobility sector allows him to partner effectively with founders who are tackling some of the world's most complex problems.
At UP.Partners, Ben Marcus contributes to a portfolio that includes some of the most innovative companies in the mobility space. While specific individual investments are part of the firm's collective strategy, his influence is evident in the firm's commitment to transformative technologies that promise long-term, sustainable impact. His work helps to accelerate the development of solutions that will shape a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future for global mobility. Through his leadership, Ben Marcus continues to drive significant advancements in the venture capital ecosystem, propelling forward the next generation of mobility pioneers.
Ben Marcus is a Managing Partner at UP.Partners, a venture capital firm focused on the future of mobility. He is also a successful entrepreneur, having co-founded and led innovative companies in the aviation technology sector, including AirMap.
Ben Marcus primarily invests in companies transforming mobility, logistics, supply chain, aerospace, and sustainable infrastructure. His focus areas include deep tech innovations that redefine how people and goods move.
Ben Marcus works as a Managing Partner at UP.Partners, a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in the future of mobility.