# Miles Lasater

> Miles Lasater is the New Haven-based founder and CEO of Purpose Built, a venture studio supporting mission-driven companies in fintech, upskilling and the future of work. A Yale computer science graduate, he co-founded Higher One, SeeClickFix and OneUni, worked as an investor at F-Prime Capital, taught venture capital at Yale and hosts Startups for Good. His civic work includes Curious Learning, ConnCORP, Neighbors For Housing and Civic Works.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Purpose Built
- **Organizations:** Purpose Built, Higher One, SeeClickFix, OneUni, F-Prime Capital, Yale University, Yale Entrepreneurial Society, Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, Curious Learning, ConnCORP, Civic Works Department, Neighbors For Housing, Kauffman Fellows, Venture for America
- **Education:** BA in Computer Science, Yale University
- **Known for:** Co-founded Higher One and helped develop it into a NYSE-listed company with more than $200 million in revenue and more than 750 employees over its growth., Co-founded SeeClickFix and OneUni., Invested in dozens of pre-seed and seed-stage ventures.

## Career timeline

- **1999** — Founding officer of the Yale Entrepreneurial Society.
- **2000** — Co-founded Higher One in New Haven with Mark Volchek and Sean Glass; became chief operations officer.
- **2001** — Graduated from Yale University.
- **2008** — Founding officer and board member of the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute; co-founder of SeeClickFix, established in 2008.
- **2010** — Higher One completed its IPO.
- **2012** — Higher One announced his succession to president and board chair; the company settled FDIC action involving its student account program.
- **2014** — Left Higher One’s presidency in early 2014; part-time employment ended December 31, while he remained a director.
- **2019** — SeeClickFix was acquired.
- **2022** — Purpose Built began its venture studio; Lasater and Taylor Thompson reported 1,044 ideas in the first ten months.
- **2025** — Co-founded Civic Works Department, organized in Connecticut in September.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Higher One and helped develop it into a NYSE-listed company with more than $200 million in revenue and more than 750 employees over its growth.
- Co-founded SeeClickFix and OneUni.
- Invested in dozens of pre-seed and seed-stage ventures.
- Taught venture capital at Yale University.
- Kauffman Fellow and GSSN Studio Launch Program graduate.
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year regional winner and national finalist, according to his public biography.

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — Civic Works Department was organized in Connecticut; Lasater is a co-founder with Ming Thompson and Caroline Tanbee Smith.
- **2024-12** — Published a LinkedIn article with Taylor Thompson, “Skip Co-Founder Dating and Build Traction Instead,” on December 16.

## Links

- Website: https://mileslasater.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mileslasater/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mileslasater

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/miles-lasater
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10