Steve Payne

Co-founder and Partner

2009

Architect Partners is a boutique tech mergers & acquisition and investment advisory firm focused on the crytpo and fintech sectors. I've been an investor, advisor or Board Member for dozens of global technology companies, and I've done transactions with Cisco, NTT, Opera Networks, Ricoh, Netgear, FICO, Marlin Equity, Qualcomm and many more.

Partner

2021

Global Mentor

2017

Advising Korean AI, blockchain, AR/VR and enterprise software CEOs on venture financing, strategic partnerships and business development.

Managing Partner

1997 - 2008

Ignite Group is a trans-Pacific corporate venture capital firm with offices and multiple funds in Silicon Valley and Tokyo. I headed Ignite's early stage venture capital investments and new business building for strategic investors such as NTT, Ricoh, Epson, DoCoMo, and other corporate partners.

Board Advisor

2002 - 2005

M&A advisory, strategy, executive recruiting, turnaround consulting

EVP Product Development & Marketing

1995 - 1997

Headed all marketing and software development for Sega, Sony Playstation, PC and online digital entertainment products. Launched Sega Heat, one of the first online gaming networks.

VP Product Development

1994 - 1994

Managed 400+ people across five North America game development studios for Sega, responsible for releasing over 60 games per year. Responsible for $75mm+ annual development budget.

Director New Products

1993 - 1994

Headed $250 million business unit responsible for new hardware platforms and software titles

VP Marketing

1990 - 1991

Managed product marketing and wrote second round business plan for this Kleiner Perkins/Sequoia Capital/Interwest/Austin/3i Ventures startup.

Senior Associate

1985 - 1990

Managed projects for strategy, marketing and technology clients in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Australia. Charter member of Booz Allen Capital buyout team.