No one does what we do. There's a huge gap in advisory services offered to startup companies at the critical juncture of positioning themselves for the next big event, be it a financing or an exit via M&A. We provide objective, CEO-level advice on how to position your company based on industry insight and compelling data analysis. We serve as the trusted advisor whose only objective is helping you succeed at your stated goal. And as necessary, we'll supply the industry experts to move from strategy to execution mode on your new plan. We'll also help you manage the process from partner development all the way to helping lead your exit.

Mark Upson

Founder and Managing Partner

Mark founded NextPath Advisors in 2016 based on his experiences as CEO for both private equity and venture capital backed tech growth companies. Across an IPO and numerous successful M&A exits on his own, Mark learned a great deal about how lower middle market companies need to position for success for their investors and teams. A lot of the ultimate success comes from leverage—having the right business development strategy, go-to-market plan, and partners in place to scale revenues and position for the optimal financing or exit event. 

Tom Loutzenheiser

Partner

Tom has taken tech companies from startup to profitable growth and Inc 500 status, including several successful M&A events.  Since founding his first company in 1993, he has led three companies to profitability and successful mergers with public companies.  He has also held executive officer or board positions at four other technology startup companies that grew to profitability and successful exits.    As a partner in a tech venture capital fund, he gained a strong understanding of the venture capital industry. He has served on the Board of Directors of six technology companies, and the board of advisors of both University of Washington and Boise State University engineering.

Dave Parker 

PARTNER

Dave started his first company in 1998 and is a 5X founder having sold three and closed two in the founder role. He’s been part of more than a dozen transactions total as a Board Member, Operator and Advisor. He’s held operating roles in technology, business services, hardware, and non-profit sectors.  Parker is also the author of “Trajectory: Startup—Ideation to Product/Market Fit” a book developed from his personal experience as a founder as well as his time with Startup Weekend as COO and SVP of Programs and People (sold to Techstars in 2015). He serves as the founding Board Chair for the Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) Startup Programs.  

Rob Wiley

Partner

Rob has more than 25 years of corporate development and operational leadership experience in the technology and marketing industry and across bootstrapped, venture capital, growth equity, private equity, and public companies. He uses his marketing and product background to help companies articulate their unique benefits to customers and to targeted buyers during transactions. Wiley leverages his breadth of experience gained through numerous M&A deals by partnering with company leaders to develop strategic growth plans and navigate exit events.

Our affiliate partners:

First Analysis Securities Investment Banking

Founded in 1981, First Analysis has a 37-year track record of serving emerging growth companies and established industry leaders within its focused areas of domain expertise. Our investment banking practice leverages industry insights developed through our equity research and private equity activities to deliver value to clients across the life cycle of a business. Providing senior-level attention to every client, First Analysis offers superior execution across a comprehensive range of investment banking services, including M&A advisory, public equity and debt financing, and private equity placements.

Digital Clues Group, LLC

Rosie Hausler is CEO of Digital Clues Group (DCG), a Seattle-based strategic marketing agency that helps small to mid-sized companies connect with their best customers. She has over twenty-five years of high tech and digital marketing experience. Rosie has served as VP of Marketing for three Silicon Valley start-ups (CallTheShots, ViewCentral, and Nsite) and two Seattle start-ups (Likewise Software and QL2). She’s also been an interim CMO for many small to mid-size companies including YouSendIt, Koders, Hubspan, and Liaison Technologies.