Mike Smerklo

Mike Smerklo is the Managing Partner at Paladin Consumer Ventures and is based in Austin, Texas. Before transitioning to venture capital, he served as the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Revere Health, a health technology startup that he scaled and led to an acquisition. At Paladin, he has invested in more than 50 early-stage companies and recently helped raise a $100 million fund in 2024 to target consumer technology and direct-to-consumer brands. Smerklo holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Miami University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern Kellogg. He frequently shares his expertise on platforms like the 20VC podcast and serves on an Austin advisory board for a health tech accelerator. His professional focus centers on bridging operations, marketing, and investment strategies to accelerate early-stage consumer and software startups.