Zak Kukoff built and sold companies as a teenager, including founding an attendance-tracking startup and graduating from TechStars before he could drive, giving him unusually deep founder empathy and a long operating history relative to his age. He frequently represents the intersection of venture capital and public policy, now chairing the Tech and Venture Practice at Lewis-Burke Associates and appearing in policy-focused media to translate complex technology and AI export issues—unusual for someone with a classic early-stage VC background. Zak Kukoff built and sold companies as a teenager, including founding an attendance-tracking startup and graduating from TechStars before he could drive, giving him unusually deep founder empathy and a long operating history relative to his age. He frequently represents the intersection of venture capital and public policy, now chairing the Tech and Venture Practice at Lewis-Burke Associates and appearing in policy-focused media to translate complex technology and AI export issues—unusual for someone with a classic early-stage VC background.