Mike Galgon
aQuantive co-founder (acquired by Microsoft for $6B in 2007) and a 2015 co-founder of Pioneer Square Labs, where he served as Managing Director and later Venture Partner; departed PSL to become CEO of Global Partnerships effective July 31, 2024, after more than 20 years on its board.
Mike Galgon holds a bachelor's in economics from Duke and an M.B.A. from Harvard, and earlier served with VISTA in inner-city Boston and as a diving officer in the U.S. Navy. In 1997 he co-founded aQuantive, a publicly traded digital-marketing company (Avenue A, Atlas, DRIVEpm); Microsoft acquired it in 2007 for roughly $6 billion, and Galgon served as Microsoft's Chief Advertising Strategist until 2009. He co-founded Seattle startup studio and venture fund Pioneer Square Labs in 2015, serving as Managing Director and later Venture Partner while the firm launched more than 30 venture-backed companies. After more than 20 years on the board of Global Partnerships, including as President and Chair, he became its CEO effective July 31, 2024, succeeding longtime CEO Rick Beckett; Global Partnerships is a Seattle-based impact investor serving entrepreneurs in Latin America and Africa. He is no longer an active partner at Pioneer Square Labs, having left for the CEO role.
Overview
- Role
- CEO, Global Partnerships (formerly Managing Director/Venture Partner, Pioneer Square Labs)
- Based in
- Seattle, WA
- Prior experience
- aQuantive (Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer; acquired by Microsoft in 2007); Microsoft (Chief Advertising Strategist 2007-2009); Pioneer Square Labs (Co-Founder; Managing Director & later Venture Partner; 2015-2024)
Companies0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- Who is Mike Galgon?
- Mike Galgon holds a bachelor's in economics from Duke and an M.B.A. from Harvard, and earlier served with VISTA in inner-city Boston and as a diving officer in the U.S. Navy. In 1997 he co-founded aQuantive, a publicly traded digital-marketing company (Avenue A, Atlas, DRIVEpm); Microsoft acquired it in 2007 for roughly $6 billion, and Galgon served as Microsoft's Chief Advertising Strategist until 2009. He co-founded Seattle startup studio and venture fund Pioneer Square Labs in 2015, serving as Managing Director and later Venture Partner while the firm launched more than 30 venture-backed companies. After more than 20 years on the board of Global Partnerships, including as President and Chair, he became its CEO effective July 31, 2024, succeeding longtime CEO Rick Beckett; Global Partnerships is a Seattle-based impact investor serving entrepreneurs in Latin America and Africa. He is no longer an active partner at Pioneer Square Labs, having left for the CEO role.
- What is Mike Galgon's role?
- Mike Galgon is CEO, Global Partnerships (formerly Managing Director/Venture Partner, Pioneer Square Labs), based in Seattle, WA.
- Where did Mike Galgon work before?
- Mike Galgon's prior roles include aQuantive (Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer; acquired by Microsoft in 2007); Microsoft (Chief Advertising Strategist 2007-2009); Pioneer Square Labs (Co-Founder; Managing Director & later Venture Partner; 2015-2024).
Tags
Sources & citations6
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Mike Galgon named CEO of Global Partnerships effective July 31, 2024, after nearly 20 years as a board member; prior co-founder of aQuantive (acquired by Microsoft) and co-founder/Managing Director/Venture Partner of Pioneer Square Labs; MBA Harvard Business School, BA Economics Duke University; U.S. Navy diving officer and VISTA volunteer.
Global Partnerships: Long-Time Seattle Technology Leader Assumes CEO Post at Global PartnershipsVerified2024-07-31 - 2
Mike Galgon co-founded aQuantive (sold to Microsoft for $6B) and Pioneer Square Labs; became CEO of Global Partnerships in July 2024; over 22 years of involvement with Global Partnerships.
GeekWire: After launching aQuantive and Pioneer Square Labs, Mike Galgon backs a different kind of entrepreneurReported2024-01-01 - 3
Pioneer Square Labs was founded by Greg Gottesman, Ben Gilbert, Geoff Entress, and aQuantive co-founder Mike Galgon in 2015.
PSL team page: Pioneer Square Labs TeamReported2026-08-11 - 4
Pioneer Square Labs, a Seattle-based startup studio and venture fund, raises $12.5M; describes the founding team and studio model.
TechCrunch: Pioneer Square Labs Grabs $12.5M To Dream Up, Then Kill Off Or Spin Out StartupsReported2015-10-01 - 5
Global Partnerships Announces CEO Succession, confirming Mike Galgon's transition from longtime board member to CEO.
Global Partnerships: Global Partnerships Announces CEO SuccessionVerified2024 - 6
Mike Galgon listed as Venture Partner, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Pioneer Square Labs (aggregator profile, since superseded by his 2024 departure to Global Partnerships).
Crunchbase: Mike GalgonReported2026-08-11