Aaron Golbin profile photo

Aaron Golbin

General Partner at LvlUp Ventures and Guest Lecturer (Entrepreneurship & Business) at Columbia Business School

Venture CapitalBusiness StrategyStartup FundraisingAI StrategyProduct DevelopmentLeadership
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About

I'm Aaron Golbin, a General Partner at LvlUp Ventures and Guest Lecturer at Columbia Business School. I've built my career from founding multiple companies to advising on federal AI strategy and now leading venture capital initiatives. I'm passionate about backing ambitious founders and believe capital should follow performance, not just pitch decks. I focus on AI, CPG, fintech, and other high-growth sectors, offering hands-on guidance, warm introductions, and both equity and non-dilutive financing. I'm always looking to connect with early-stage founders who are building the next iconic companies and seeking pre-seed to Series B funding.

Networking

What I can offer

  • ›Warm introductions to investors and partners
  • ›Hands-on growth guidance
  • ›Access to a large network of founders, investors, and operators
  • ›Capital deployment (both equity and non-dilutive)
  • ›Acceleration support through LvlUp's programs

Looking for

  • ›Early-stage founders across tech and CPG
  • ›Founders raising pre-seed to Series B

Best fit for

Early-stage foundersTech and CPG entrepreneursStartup founders raising capital

Current Interests

Venture capital deal flowStartup fundraising (seed to Series B)AI & AI infrastructureCPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brandsFintech

Background

Career

Started as founder of Kings Corporation, then founded and led multiple companies including DebateIsland.com, BestDealWins.com, and The American Post. Worked as Business Strategist and Federal Government Generative AI Strategy Advisor at Noblis, Strategy and Corporate Development at Medality, then progressed through roles at LvlUp Ventures from Founding Partner and Head of NextUp to Managing Partner to General Partner. Co-founded and co-chairs the National Artificial Intelligence Association (NAIA).

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Systems from The George Washington University, graduated at age 20

Achievements

  • ›Recognized as a '4x Forbes' lister
  • ›Backed over 600 startups globally
  • ›At LvlUp Ventures: Created and led 5+ VC funds and accelerators with over 200 companies, served as key leader in a 9-figure publicly-traded AI company turnaround, launched services-driven business units from 0 to '$XM ARR' in under a year with Fortune 500 clients
  • ›At Noblis: Supported proposal development for over $750M in government contracts, helped formulate an 8-year company strategy working alongside the CEO
  • ›At DebateIsland.com: Grew it to the world's largest online debate platform with 'millions of users' and no advertising spend, developed 'Debra AI' suite used by tens of thousands
  • ›Co-founded the National Artificial Intelligence Association (NAIA), described as the United States' most prominent AI trade association

Opinions

  • Capital should not be a bottleneck to ambition and the best founders build regardless of perfect market conditions
  • Advocates for a future of VC that includes significant non-dilutive, traction-driven financing: 'Capital will follow performance — not just pitch decks'
  • Strongly believes in the importance of speed and momentum in venture investing and startup execution
  • Argues that most startups fail by 'scaling chaos instead of leadership'
  • Emphasizes that for pitch decks, clarity and a compelling 'why now' and distribution story are critical for investor attention
  • Expresses that 'the next iconic companies' are being built in informal settings by founders who are not waiting