Entrepreneur. Investor.
Part-Time Author.
The entrepreneur’s journey is really, really hard work – but there is no other job like it in the world. My goal is to help other entrepreneurs be successful by sharing the non-obvious insights from my own journey.

About Mike
Mike Smerklo is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Next Coast Ventures, investing in a new generation of entrepreneurs building disruptive companies in big markets. Prior to this, Mike bought and scaled a small business into a publicly-traded company, ServiceSource, worth nearly a billion dollars in value. More than anything, though, he’s an entrepreneur driven by the desire to turn ideas into reality.
Recent Blogs
Introducing MONKEY MASTERS – An Interview Series for Entrepreneurs
In my book, Mr. Monkey and Me - A Real Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs, I...
Should It Stay or Should It Go
I was driving my daughter home from school the other day when a rock classic came on the radio. I had used this Clash song to express my emotions to my girlfriend way back in 8th grade. It was a long time ago but my inability to express myself remains an issue to this date. But I digress…
As An Entrepreneur You Can Expect a Lot of Things
As an entrepreneur you can expect a lot of things that come with the journey –...
Recent Press
How Austin’s Start-up Sector Won the Pandemic
Texas CEO Magazine By Michael Agresta The past year has run roughshod over millions of Americans, yet the tech industry in Texas is seemingly riding...
The future of work evolves and food delivery thrives while entertainment/travel suffer
By Reporter Sophia Kunthara Crunchbase March 18, 2021 Companies that fall into the “future of work” category were clear winners and saw their...
Optimal Startup Daily: Five Lessons About Entrepreneurship That I Learned in 2020 by Mike Smerklo
March 9, 2021 Optimal Startup Daily Podcast Mike Smerklo is an experienced entrepreneur, investor and business leader driven by the desire to turn...
Testimonials
About Mr. Monkey and Me
What if the secret to being a successful entrepreneur had nothing to do with your business plan, resources, market size, or strategy? If your success or failure weren’t dependent on how much money you have, where you grew up or the level of education you received?
Here’s the truth: the difference between success and failure is right between your ears.


Do you have the mental toughness to survive the marathon ahead?
The Entrepreneurial Survival Test
Becoming an entrepreneur is a lot like running a marathon: it takes time, sacrifice, and hard work. You need the right training and, even more importantly, you need an incredibly high level of mental strength. As an aspiring entrepreneur, do you have the mental toughness to survive the marathon ahead – or could you use more training? Take the quiz to find out!
Contact Mike