Mike Ghaffary

Overview

Mike Ghaffary is an angel investor and former executive in the technology sector. He has a background in computer science, having earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California, and holds both an MBA and a JD from Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, respectively. Ghaffary began his career as a vice president at Summit Partners before co-founding Stitcher, a mobile audio service, in 2007. He later served as the CEO of Eat24, a Yelp subsidiary, and was a general partner at Social Capital. In 2019, he joined Canvas Ventures as a general partner, focusing on investing in marketplaces, consumer, and software companies. In 2025, Ghaffary transitioned to Burst Capital, a venture firm founded by former Yelp executives, where he continues to invest in early-stage startups. His investment portfolio includes companies such as Superhuman, Strava, Faire, Optimizely, and CloudKitchens. Ghaffary is particularly interested in startups that leverage AI to create high-paying jobs and has expressed a desire to support companies that offer vocational training and skill development in trades like industrial electricians and commercial plumbers. He is based in San Francisco, California.

Investment Focus

• Startups leveraging AI to create high-paying jobs
• Companies offering vocational training and skill development in trades like industrial electricians and commercial plumbers

Portfolio Companies