Current Position and Role
Gary Swart is a General Partner at Polaris Partners, based in their San Francisco office, where he focuses on investments in the technology and healthcare sectors, specifically healthcare services and products. His investment emphasis includes Human Capital/HR Tech, Sales & CRM, marketplaces, and telehealth/remote patient care. As a General Partner, he serves on multiple boards representing Polaris, including Faro Health and Indomo. Additionally, he holds advisory roles for several companies such as EmpInfo, The Mom Project, and FloQast.
Professional Background and Career History
Gary transitioned to venture capital in 2014 when he joined Polaris Partners as a Venture Partner, later becoming a General Partner. Prior to Polaris, Gary served as the CEO of oDesk (now UpWork) from 2005 until April 2014.
During his tenure at oDesk, Gary:
- Led the company through a successful merger with Elance, creating the world's largest online workplace.
- Oversaw rapid expansion, growing the platform to over 8 million freelancers and 1 million clients.
- Guided oDesk to industry leadership while serving as a prominent advocate for the future of work and the emerging online work economy.
- Managed teams of varying sizes, including thousands of employees across global operations.
- Was Chief Revenue Officer at Intellibank before oDesk, responsible for all channels, further underscoring his expertise in revenue growth and sales leadership.
Industry Expertise and Thought Leadership
Gary is recognized as a thought leader in several domains:
- The future of work, including the rise and management of freelance marketplaces and remote workforces.
- Marketplaces innovation, sales leadership, and strategies on how best to hire and manage teams.
- The rapidly evolving fields of telehealth and remote patient care.
- Scaling technology and healthcare companies for enterprise success.
He is actively engaged in the startup ecosystem as:
- A mentor and advisor, including roles with the Alchemist Academy and StartX mentor network.
- A frequent public speaker at major industry events such as SXSW, The Economist’s Ideas Economy, TechCrunch 50, TiECon, GigaOM’s Net:Work Conference, and the Inc. Leadership Conference.
Education
Gary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Board and Advisory Involvements
At Polaris Partners, Gary has governance and advisory roles supporting portfolio companies, which fosters strong operational insights and strategic oversight. His direct board seats and advisory roles include:
- Board Member – Faro Health, Indomo
- Advisor – EmpInfo, The Mom Project, FloQast
- Advisor – Expert360
Key Metrics and Achievements
- Led oDesk to become the world's largest online workplace, facilitating over $1 billion of work completed on its platform.
- Directed the company’s merger with Elance, a pivotal event that shaped the freelancing industry.
- Built and managed large teams, demonstrating operational and executive management skills across multiple organizational scales.
Geographic Location
Gary is based in Atherton, California, within the San Francisco Bay Area, aligning him closely with Silicon Valley’s technology and venture capital ecosystem.
This profile underscores Gary Swart’s combined expertise in technology, healthcare investing, marketplace businesses, and scaling global workforce platforms. His depth of executive leadership experience alongside hands-on venture capital involvement positions him as a significant influencer and decision-maker within his focus sectors.
