Mike Ahearn founded True North Venture Partners based on a belief that early stage companies seeking to disrupt socially important business sectors require a fundamentally unique approach to funding, growth and market expansion. His perspective is based on his experience with First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), a company he co-founded in 1999, led as CEO from 2000-2009 and currently serves as its Chairman. After an initial public offering in 2006, First Solar became a publicly-traded company on the NASDAQ and later became the first pure play renewable energy company to be listed on the S&P 500. Mike co-founded True North in 1996.
Mike serves on several boards of directors, including the boards of Cox Enterprises, a leading communications, media and automotive services company with revenues of nearly $16 billion and approximately 50,000 employees; and Endeavor, a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the economies of emerging markets by identifying and supporting high growth, innovative entrepreneurs.1
Mike holds B.S. and J.D. degrees from Arizona State University.