Guest Sam Thompson is one of the founding partners of Progress Ventures, the venture capital arm of Progress Partners, a boutique M&A advisory firm in which he serves as senior managing director. His main focus is on the marketing and media technology marketplace, where he has built a strong network of contacts that can help early and growth-stage businesses. Thompson has a reputation for developing strategy for retail, digital media, and marketing technology clients. He offers unique perspectives having previously worked for IGN Entertainment, Proctor & Gamble, and the Phoenix Media/Communications Group. He is also one of the orchestrators of Progress Partners’ annual Progress Connect conference in which chief executives in digital media, marketing and ad tech descend on Boston for the invite-only event. In his spare time, Thompson coaches leadership to undergraduate students at his alma mater Babson College. Discover more Boston Speaks Up at Boston Business Journal's BostInno: www.americaninno.com/boston/boston-speaks-up/