About Marc Chesley
The Guitar Lawyer. I’m a technology executive, attorney, and operator who has scaled multiple companies from early traction to nine-figure exits. I currently serve as Chief Operating Officer of Fuse Ventures, where I help dual-use startups bridge commercial markets and national security. I am also a Partner, General Counsel, and Investment Committee member at Connected Capital, and Executive-in-Residence / Head of Capital Programs at PHX FWD.
My career has been defined by building high-performance teams and products that matter. As COO of Paradox (acquired by Workday for ~$1 billion), I led product, engineering, and global operations, driving 1,000%+ growth and serving major clients including McDonald’s, Disney, Unilever, and Nestlé. Previously, I was President of OfferPad (NYSE: OPAD), scaled Infusionsoft (now Keap) from $1M to over $100M ARR as CTO and Head of Product, and served as CEO of Lavu. I have helped raise and deploy more than $500 million in growth capital across my career.
As an attorney admitted to the Arizona State Bar, U.S. District Court for Arizona, and the U.S. Supreme Court, I bring legal rigor to governance, deal structuring, and compliance. I hold a J.D. from Brigham Young University and a B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University.
Leadership Philosophy
I believe great leaders create environments where people willingly step into discomfort — because that is where real growth happens. My office is part professional sound studio, part technology lab. I’m an active guitarist and collector, and I bring that same discipline, creativity, and performance mindset to building market-leading companies.
Current Focus
Today I am deeply involved in Arizona’s innovation ecosystem, accelerating dual-use technologies through Fuse Ventures programs (Accelerator, Academy, Circuit, Future 50, and Everest Mission). I advise and invest in companies including Desert Rotor (Desert Robotics), Halo AI, Amp11.AI (co-founder), AlgoFace, ProPlaintiff.ai, and others.
I speak regularly on AI scaling, product development, leadership, and the commercialization of defense technologies.