A three-year alliance connecting MLT's network of leaders to Primary's portfolio, and a shared Fund V carry allocation.
(Bethesda, MD & New York, NY) May 5, 2026 - Primary Venture Partners and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) have spent the last two years working together to place high-growth operators into early-stage startups, first through the Factor Fellowship and most recently through MLT's national Startup Careers Network. Today, the two organizations are formalizing that work as a multi-year strategic alliance. As part of the agreement, Primary will allocate a portion of the carry from its Fund V to MLT.
Factor was launched by Primary to place emerging NYC operators into early-stage startups, and was built in close collaboration with MLT from the start. Earlier this year, Factor joined forces with MLT's Startup Careers Network to scale nationally. The new alliance turns that working relationship into a long-term commitment.
Operating Talent For The AI Cycle
AI is changing how companies scale, and the difference between great companies and category-defining ones increasingly comes down to who's running them. The alliance is built on that premise: open pathways between Primary's portfolio of 130+ companies and the operator network MLT has spent decades building.
Across the three-year agreement, the alliance will focus on 3 key pillars:
- Talent: Make MLT a trusted sourcing partner for Primary’s portfolio hiring, integrating its network of 15,000+ alumni into Primary’s talent pipeline.
- Advisory & Boards: Expand opportunities for MLT senior executives to serve in advisory and board roles across Primary’s portfolio companies.
- Carry: Allocate a portion of Fund V carry to MLT, aligning both organizations through shared, long-term value creation.
"After two years of working alongside MLT, we wanted to formalize this as a real partnership” said Brad Svrluga, Co-Founder and General Partner at Primary Venture Partners. "The structure reflects that."
"AI is rewriting how companies scale, and the difference between winning and losing is going to come down to talent," said Ben Sun, Co-Founder and Partner at Primary Venture Partners.
Launching at the MLT20 National Conference
Both organizations will speak to the alliance at the MLT20 National Conference in New York City, May 14-15. Primary co-founders Ben Sun and Brad Svrluga will open the Startup Track with The AI Super-Cycle: Why Startups Are the Frontier (and the Compass) of the Future, joined by leading investors and operators. Primary Senior Advisor Lisa Lewin will lead a tactical session on building a career inside high-growth startups, alongside a Startup Showcase highlighting 10 high-growth companies hiring top talent. The experience culminates in Startup Alley at Golden Hour – an immersive networking environment where attendees can connect directly with founders, operators, and investors, and turn conversations into career and venture opportunities.
"The next decade of economic mobility will be decided by who gets to build and lead in AI," said Mark Taguchi, Chief Startups & Impact Officer at MLT. "This alliance gives our network an incredibly valuable seat in that build-out, and it gives Primary's portfolio access to leaders who are ready to help their startups scale."
About Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)
MLT accelerates economic mobility by expanding career opportunities and improving employer practices to create inclusive, meritocratic workplaces where everyone can thrive. MLT provides high-achieving individuals with the coaching, personal networks, and high-stakes opportunities required to maximize their potential. www.mlt.org
Media Contact: Vanessa Tiongson, Chief Marketing Officer, MLT email: vtiongson@mlt.org phone: 240.685.6645
About Primary Venture Partners
Primary is a specialized seed fund based in New York City with over $1B in assets under management. Backed by a 60+ person operating team, Primary partners with founders building things the world hasn't seen yet, at the moment before the world believes. Portfolio companies include Alloy, Etched, Inspiren, and Tabs. Primary.vc
Media Contact: Tess Guttières, VP Brand + Marketing tess@primary.vc
