Karl Stark

Managing Director, Avondale Insurtech Ventures

Karl is a serial entrepreneur having invested or built more than a dozen successful businesses. He is currently Managing Director at Avondale Insurtech Ventures, where he is engaged in driving transformative change within the insurance industry. Karl is an advisor to leading insurtech companies and private equity investors as well as directing Avondale’s investments in early-stage insurtech companies. Karl founded and built Elagy, a leading digital life insurance agency, which was acquired in 2020. Prior to Elagy, Karl built Avondale Strategic Partners into a successful consulting practice, largely serving insurance carriers. Avondale was named to the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing companies in the US on three separate occasions. Karl is active in the Chicago community as a board member at Youth Outreach Services and the Economic Club of Chicago. He is also a member of The Chicago Club, Entrepreneurs’ Organization and a mentor at the Global Insurance Accelerator. He holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University. Outside of his business endeavors, Karl hones his skills as a house music DJ, regularly lighting up the dance floor at clubs and private parties.