About Us
About Us
Our Journey
Our Journey
2015
2015
The beginning - The Mark Haney Show
After scaling and exiting a large physical security hardware company (Northern Video) Mark Haney explored how he could invest in building a community of entrepreneurs to support his family, friends and founders in the Greater Sacramento region. The concept of “The Backyard” was created, and Mark launched a weekly radio show to share business success stories and inspire a new generation of Founders.
The beginning - The Mark Haney Show
After scaling and exiting a large physical security hardware company (Northern Video) Mark Haney explored how he could invest in building a community of entrepreneurs to support his family, friends and founders in the Greater Sacramento region. The concept of “The Backyard” was created, and Mark launched a weekly radio show to share business success stories and inspire a new generation of Founders.
2018
2018
Angel Investing and Entrepreneurs Unleashed
Mark met Rick Spencer and Monique Brown through startup activities in Sacramento. Monique teamed up with Mark to launch in-person events to bring together Founders and Funders (Entrepreneurs Unleashed). After his own exit, Rick asked Mark to join his new startup venture as an investor. Mark and Rick were angel investors and independently investing their time and capital in startups – building a combined portfolio of over 50 companies.
Angel Investing and Entrepreneurs Unleashed
Mark met Rick Spencer and Monique Brown through startup activities in Sacramento. Monique teamed up with Mark to launch in-person events to bring together Founders and Funders (Entrepreneurs Unleashed). After his own exit, Rick asked Mark to join his new startup venture as an investor. Mark and Rick were angel investors and independently investing their time and capital in startups – building a combined portfolio of over 50 companies.
2019
2019
The Backyard Awards
Mark made his vision come true, with Monique and Rick in attendance, he gathered over 200 of his partners (Founders, co-investors and colleagues) to celebrate how The Backyard Community had come together to engineer wins for venture building in Greater Sacramento.
The Backyard Awards
Mark made his vision come true, with Monique and Rick in attendance, he gathered over 200 of his partners (Founders, co-investors and colleagues) to celebrate how The Backyard Community had come together to engineer wins for venture building in Greater Sacramento.
2021
2021
Launched Growth Factory Fund I
After months of design, preparation, and building, Mark and Rick launched a Venture Fund, to combine the power of The Backyard into capital and community for venture scale businesses in Greater Sacramento. Monique launched a nonprofit to provide entrepreneurial programming to aspiring and new founders (this effort was rebranded as GFN in 2026).
Launched Growth Factory Fund I
After months of design, preparation, and building, Mark and Rick launched a Venture Fund, to combine the power of The Backyard into capital and community for venture scale businesses in Greater Sacramento. Monique launched a nonprofit to provide entrepreneurial programming to aspiring and new founders (this effort was rebranded as GFN in 2026).
2022-2025
2022-2025
2022-2025
Fund I invested in 70+ companies
Over 4 years, Mark and Rick invested in over 70 companies, spanning many sectors. Through mentorship and leadership (Board Participation), this portfolio grew to a leader in the Venture Capital space, with successful exits including Onsight Technology and Streamline.
Fund I invested in 70+ companies
Over 4 years, Mark and Rick invested in over 70 companies, spanning many sectors. Through mentorship and leadership (Board Participation), this portfolio grew to a leader in the Venture Capital space, with successful exits including Onsight Technology and Streamline.
2025
2025
Launched Growth Factory Ventures
Building on the success of Fund I, Ali Mackani joined Mark and Rick as a Partner and Co-Founder of Growth Factory Ventures . They outlined the vision for the future of Venture Capital, including a Venture Studio and critical systems and method to engineer wins at scale and to build ventures that will be the next wave high growth companies that can change the world and take the "Backyard Advantage" to the more regions beyond Sacramento. Later in the year, Thom Schildmeyer joined as a Partner, expanding the foundation of GFV with world class operating experience and venture building.
Launched Growth Factory Ventures
Building on the success of Fund I, Ali Mackani joined Mark and Rick as a Partner and Co-Founder of Growth Factory Ventures . They outlined the vision for the future of Venture Capital, including a Venture Studio and critical systems and method to engineer wins at scale and to build ventures that will be the next wave high growth companies that can change the world and take the "Backyard Advantage" to the more regions beyond Sacramento. Later in the year, Thom Schildmeyer joined as a Partner, expanding the foundation of GFV with world class operating experience and venture building.
2026
2026
Launched Growth Factory Ventures Fund II
GFV launches a new fund, combining direct investment with Venture Building through its newly launched Venture Studio.
Launched Growth Factory Ventures Fund II
GFV launches a new fund, combining direct investment with Venture Building through its newly launched Venture Studio.
Our Manifesto
Our Manifesto
Our Manifesto
Why We Exist
We exist because the way companies are built has changed, but the way venture operates largely has not.
Capital is more available than ever. Clarity, discipline, and execution are not. Too often, founders are asked
to perform before they are supported. Capital arrives before conviction, and disappears when reality
shows up. The result is wasted time, misaligned incentives, and companies optimized for storytelling
instead of outcomes.
We believe venture should work better.
We believe outcomes should be engineered, not hoped for.
We believe in Engineering Wins.
Engineering Wins means designing progress deliberately. It means reducing uncertainty early, aligning
incentives intentionally, and building companies through disciplined iteration rather than narrative
momentum. Wins are not accidents. They are constructed.
What We Believe
Great companies are engineered, not discovered.
Capital alone does not create an advantage. Systems do.
Early-stage risk should be designed down, not celebrated.
The best founders want partners who build with them, not spectators who judge them.
As technology compresses time, cost, and team size, the old venture playbook no longer matches how
companies are actually formed. Startups are increasingly AI-native by default. That reality demands
new operating models, not just new tools.
Why We Built a System
A fund allocates capital. A system compounds learning.
Read More
Why We Exist
We exist because the way companies are built has
changed, but the way venture operates largely has not.
Capital is more available than ever. Clarity, discipline, and
execution are not. Too often, founders are asked to perform
before they are supported. Capital arrives before conviction,
and disappears when reality shows up. The result is wasted
time, misaligned incentives, and companies optimized for
storytelling instead of outcomes.
We believe venture should work better.
We believe outcomes should be engineered, not hoped for.
We believe in Engineering Wins.
Engineering Wins means designing progress deliberately.
It means reducing uncertainty early, aligning incentives
intentionally, and building companies through
disciplined iteration rather than narrative momentum.
Wins are not accidents. They are constructed.
What We Believe
Great companies are engineered, not discovered.
Capital alone does not create an advantage. Systems do.
Early-stage risk should be designed down, not celebrated.
Read More
Meet The Team
Meet The Team
The people behind Growth Factory are operators, investors, and builders who have been in the trenches.
The people behind Growth Factory are operators, investors, and builders who have been in the trenches.
Reach Out
What are you working on?How can we help?
What are you working on? How can we help?
What are you working on? How can we help?
What are you working on?How can we help?
We’d love to hear from you.
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