Building and backing AI-native companies from South Florida.
I've spent 20+ years in payments and fintech as a serial entrepreneur, building companies from zero to scale in one of the most complex, regulated industries in the world. My career has been defined by solving hard infrastructure problems — the kind that require deep domain expertise and the patience to navigate card networks, processors, and compliance frameworks.
Today I'm the Founder & CEO of QuickRefund, a pre-dispute chargeback prevention platform that connects server-to-server to payment gateways and intercepts disputes before they ever reach the bank. We've filed 165 patent items and recently brought on the former Head of VAMP at Visa as our Chief Revenue & Innovation Officer. It's the most ambitious thing I've built — and we're just getting started.
I'm also Co-Founder of AuditLense.ai, an AI-powered auditing platform, and an active investor in companies operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence, fintech, and commerce. I'm especially drawn to founders who combine technical depth with operator instincts.
I've been based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 30+ years. South Florida isn't just home — it's a tech ecosystem I believe in and want to help grow, one founder at a time.
Companies built from day one on large language models, computer vision, or agentic AI — not legacy software with a chatbot bolted on.
The plumbing that moves money. Processors, gateways, fraud prevention, compliance tooling, and the middleware that connects it all.
AI applications that drive real revenue for businesses — from customer service automation to supply chain intelligence to revenue operations.
I don't just write checks. I bring 20 years of operating experience, industry relationships, and the scar tissue that comes from building in regulated industries.
Especially interested in supporting South Florida founders and vibe coding startups who need hands-on guidance getting from idea to product-market fit. If you're building something ambitious from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or anywhere in the region — I want to hear about it.
Pre-dispute chargeback prevention platform. Connects server-to-server to payment gateways and intercepts disputes before they reach the bank. 165 patent items filed. Recently hired the former Head of VAMP at Visa as Chief Revenue & Innovation Officer.
getquickrefund.com →High-risk merchant payment processing, simplified. Specializes in merchants other processors decline or terminate — serving nutraceuticals, CBD, subscriptions, e-commerce, travel, digital goods, and other high-risk verticals. Every merchant receives QuickRefund pre-dispute technology built in. 48-hour approval turnaround with guaranteed lower rates and reduced reserves, backed by 25+ years combined experience in merchant services and payment technology.
ainsworthpayments.com →Venture studio that builds AI companies before they raise a dollar. Built and sold Direqt AI Search (acquired by Search.com). Powers conversational AI for 75+ content brands. Formerly known as Direqt.
redirectventures.ai →AI-powered auditing platform bringing intelligence and automation to the audit process.
auditlens.ai →AI-driven platform connecting businesses with intelligent solutions.
orchardlink.ai →No-code AI agent platform for customer service. Build branded conversational AI agents without writing a line of code. Now operating as Rallo.ai.
wavesay.com →Manages 290+ Community Development Districts across Florida, providing management, administrative, accounting, field operations, and amenity services for special districts. A family of LLCs backed by a small group of investors, operating from 6 office locations across the state.
govmgtsvc.com →I work with a small number of companies as an advisor or board member. The best founder-advisor relationships are built on trust, directness, and complementary pattern recognition. Here's what I bring:
Pricing, positioning, and channel strategy for fintech and enterprise products.
Deep knowledge of card networks, processors, acquirers, and the rules that govern them.
How to build AI products that ship, sell, and retain — not just demo well.
Narrative, deck, positioning, and investor introductions grounded in real operating context.
These are suggestions — availability not guaranteed. This section can be removed before publishing.
Mark and his wife Debbie have called Fort Lauderdale home for over 30 years. Debbie is a CPA and serves as CFO of Governmental Management Services — one of the family's portfolio companies — making the Smiths a true operator household. Their son Austin is in the graduate program for Information Systems at the University of Florida, and their daughter Megan graduated from the University of South Florida and now works as Marketing Manager at QuickRefund — making QuickRefund a genuine family affair.
Outside of work, the whole family loves skiing, exercise, running, and travel. And if there's one thing you need to know about Mark: he's a massive University of Texas Longhorns fan. Hook 'Em. If it's Texas, he's there.