Vc Victor Lazarte Is Leaving Benchmark To Launch His Own Firm

After 2 years arsenic a task capitalist for apical support patient Benchmark, Victor Lazarte is leaving that institution to commencement his ain investing gig, he announced connected X connected Thursday.

Lazarte became known successful tech for co-founding mobile gaming institution Wildlife Studios, which was past weighted astatine an estimated $3 cardinal successful 2020. Wildlife raised money from a multitude of VCs, including Benchmark.

During his 2 years astatine Benchmark, Lazarte invested successful recruiting and information labeling startup Mercor, AI video intelligence level HeyGen, and AI infrastructure institution Decart AI.

Lazarte is leaving Benchmark to “build a caller finance practice,” he wrote successful nan post. He had precocious informed his portfolio companies astir his plans to time off Benchmark, according to a source.

Lazarte is nan 2nd investor to measurement down from Benchmark’s business this year. Sarah Tavel, announced successful April that she is transitioning to a venture partner.

After Lazarte’s departure remaining partners astatine nan storied patient see Peter Fanton, Eric Vishria, and Chetan Puttagunta.

Unlike astir VC firms, wherever elder partners typically person a greater stock of guidance fees and profits, Benchmark operates arsenic an equal partnership, pinch each wide partners dividing fees and returns equally. Benchmark and Lazarte did not instantly respond to our petition for further comment.