# Mark Urdahl

> Mark Urdahl is an entrepreneur and investor who was the founding CEO of Virtual Instruments, the 2008 Finisar spinout later renamed Virtana. His career includes IBM, Applied Science Fiction and venture investing. He led Virtual Instruments during its early international expansion and handed the CEO role to John W. Thompson in May 2010, remaining a director and shareholder at that time. His public LinkedIn profile currently lists Mountain VC.

- **Role:** Managing Partner at Mountain VC
- **Organizations:** Mountain VC, Virtual Instruments (now Virtana), IBM, Applied Science Fiction, White Dove Partners, City of West Lake Hills
- **Education:** University of California, Santa Barbara
- **Known for:** Co-founded the Fibre Channel Systems Initiative while at IBM., Helped commercialize IBM digital imaging technology through Applied Science Fiction., Led the founding phase of Virtual Instruments, now Virtana.

## Career timeline

- **1993** — Worked with Finisar and Jerry Rawls on the Fibre Channel SAN initiative, according to his 2008 recollection.
- **1995** — Co-founded Applied Science Fiction, an IBM digital imaging spinout, and served as CEO.
- **2006** — Elected mayor of West Lake Hills, Texas.
- **2008** — Became founding CEO of Virtual Instruments after its June spinout from Finisar.
- **2009** — Led the company during European expansion; Joseph Mathis became its first Fellow and John W. Thompson joined the board.
- **2010** — John W. Thompson replaced him as CEO on May 6; Urdahl remained a director and large shareholder.
- **2026** — Listed as Managing Partner of Mountain VC on the June 23-24 IVYFON forum agenda.

## Achievements

- Co-founded the Fibre Channel Systems Initiative while at IBM.
- Helped commercialize IBM digital imaging technology through Applied Science Fiction.
- Led the founding phase of Virtual Instruments, now Virtana.
- Virtual Instruments expanded into the UK and Germany during his CEO tenure.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — The IVYFON June 23-24 forum agenda listed him as Managing Partner of Mountain VC.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-urdahl-42018

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/mark-urdahl
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21