We Are Entrepreneurs
Kass and Mike are successful serial entrepreneurs. Their decades-long track record of building thriving companies sets them apart as standout figures in the business world.
Blue Birds
Kass & Mike are current owners of the New York Blue Birds, the city's only golf franchise of the high-stakes Grass League Par 3 golf league.
Buddy Media
Kass and Mike co-founded Buddy Media, a pioneering social media marketing platform that was acquired by Salesforce for $745 million.
Golf.com
Kass & Mike cofounded Golf.com in 1998. Golf.com was the leading online golf platform that provided online golf content and services including live leaderboards, official USGA handicaps, tee time reservations, video instruction and more. Kass & Mike sold Golf.com to Time Inc. in 2006 for $25 million.
Lazerow Ventures
Cofounders of Lazerow Ventures, a venture fund focused on early-stage technology companies. Past portfolio companies include Facebook, Braze, Domo and Scopely.
Merraine Group
Kass and Mike are the majority owners of Merraine Group, one of the nation's largest and most successful healthcare executive search firms.
Shape Matrix
Mike cofounded Shape Operating Systems, to help organizations harness the power of truth and use it as a competitive advantage. The technology provides organizations with the traceability solutions needed to secure its assets, supply chain and data.
U-Wire
Mike was the founder of U-Wire, an Associated Press-type network of 700+ student-run publications that covered campus news and student issues. In 1997, Mike merged U-Wire with Student Advantage who went public later that same year.
Velvet Sea
Kass & Mike are cofounders and current partners of Velvet Sea Ventures, a multi-stage venture capital firm that helps entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality. Velvet Sea Ventures provides seed-to-growth stage capital investments coupled with strategic support across all sectors. Current Velvet Sea Ventures portfolio companies include Scopely, eToro and Liquid Death. Kass & Mike cofounded Velvet Sea Ventures in 2020.
Kass & Mike Recognition
Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story
In this honest account, Kass & Mike will tell you the crap you can expect to find in the $h!t-filled fields, how to avoid stepping in some of it, and how to scrape off the rest.
"Kass and Mike’s transparency and expertise shine through every page—this is entrepreneurship as it’s meant to be understood."
- Ron Conway
Founder & Managing Partner, SV Angel
"If you're building a company, you want Kass and Mike in your corner. Their startup and life journey offers a rare glimpse into true resilience, ingenuity, and heart—a chance to learn from the best."
- Karin Klein
Founding Partner, Bloomberg Beta
"With their signature blend of honesty and experience, Kass and Mike deliver a powerful narrative that captures, unlike any book on the topic, what it means to be an entrepreneur."
- Kevin Colleran
Managing Director, Slow Ventures & Early Facebook Employee
"Mike and Kass have crafted a masterpiece that uses poignant stories to share invaluable lessons for anyone serious about succeeding as an entrepreneur."
- Rick Farman
Founder, Superfly
"I have lived Kass and Mike’s cheat codes for entrepreneurs as a product leader at Buddy Media. They worked for me and they will work for you. The lessons they share in Shoveling $h!t have informed my success at Sure and I will take them with me forever."
- Wayne Slavin
Cofounder & CEO, Sure
"An unflinching look at what it really takes to succeed. Kass and Mike dive into the crap every entrepreneur has to deal with building a business and emerge with hard-won lessons about starting, managing, pivoting—and learning to love the shovel along the way."
- Scott Galloway
Professor NYU Stern School of Business, Host Prof G Pod & Co-host Pivot Podcast
"Mike and Kass is the greatest partnership I've ever been lucky enough to witness in person. Not just in business but in life, they bring out the best in each other and all of those around them. This book is a wonderful map to success both personal and professional from two of the most special people I know."
- Seth Meyers
Host, Late Night with Seth Meyers
"The world needs to be exposed to Kass and Mike. Entrepreneurs who don’t devour this book are grossly negligent."
- Gary Vaynerchuk
Chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia & CEO of, VeeFriends
"Kass and Mike have been invaluable to me as a first-time entrepreneur. Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story captures the universal entrepreneurial journey in an authentic, insightful, and undeniably powerful way."
- Mike Cessario
Founder & CEO, Liquid Death
"Kass and Mike’s transparency and expertise shine through every page—this is entrepreneurship as it’s meant to be understood."
- Ron Conway
Founder & Managing Partner, SV Angel
"If you're building a company, you want Kass and Mike in your corner. Their startup and life journey offers a rare glimpse into true resilience, ingenuity, and heart—a chance to learn from the best."
- Karin Klein
Founding Partner, Bloomberg Beta
"With their signature blend of honesty and experience, Kass and Mike deliver a powerful narrative that captures, unlike any book on the topic, what it means to be an entrepreneur."
- Kevin Colleran
Managing Director, Slow Ventures & Early Facebook Employee
"Mike and Kass have crafted a masterpiece that uses poignant stories to share invaluable lessons for anyone serious about succeeding as an entrepreneur."
- Rick Farman
Founder, Superfly
"I have lived Kass and Mike’s cheat codes for entrepreneurs as a product leader at Buddy Media. They worked for me and they will work for you. The lessons they share in Shoveling $h!t have informed my success at Sure and I will take them with me forever."
- Wayne Slavin
Cofounder & CEO, Sure
"An unflinching look at what it really takes to succeed. Kass and Mike dive into the crap every entrepreneur has to deal with building a business and emerge with hard-won lessons about starting, managing, pivoting—and learning to love the shovel along the way."
- Scott Galloway
Professor NYU Stern School of Business, Host Prof G Pod & Co-host Pivot Podcast
"Mike and Kass is the greatest partnership I've ever been lucky enough to witness in person. Not just in business but in life, they bring out the best in each other and all of those around them. This book is a wonderful map to success both personal and professional from two of the most special people I know."
- Seth Meyers
Host, Late Night with Seth Meyers
"The world needs to be exposed to Kass and Mike. Entrepreneurs who don’t devour this book are grossly negligent."
- Gary Vaynerchuk
Chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia & CEO of, VeeFriends
"Kass and Mike have been invaluable to me as a first-time entrepreneur. Shoveling $h!t: A Love Story captures the universal entrepreneurial journey in an authentic, insightful, and undeniably powerful way."
- Mike Cessario
Founder & CEO, Liquid Death
"Kass and Mike’s transparency and expertise shine through every page—this is entrepreneurship as it’s meant to be understood."
- Ron Conway
Founder & Managing Partner, SV Angel
Highlights
View All
Podcast
June 3, 2025
Podcast
June 5, 2025
Podcast
March 20, 2025
Resources
Media & Speaking
Headshots
Entrepreneur Kit
Subscribe to The Farm™
Your go-to newsletter for real, no-BS insights on the messy, rewarding journey of entrepreneurship. Each edition is packed with our best cheat codes, favorite finds, and behind-the-scenes stories, plus a roundup of past and upcoming events, podcasts, and more. Whether you’re here to learn, grow, or just enjoy the ride—grab a shovel and let’s get to work!
First Name
Last Name
Email
Kass and Mike delivered an engaging, raw, and frequently hilarious keynote interview at the Primary NYC Summit that resonated deeply with both founders and investo...
Brad Svrulga
Cofounder & General Partner, Primary Venture Partners
Kass and Mike’s stories, rich with real-life examples and lessons, capture the grit and tenacity necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs. They brought a humanity and...
Erik Dochtermann
YPO Marketing Network Board Member, YPO Global Marketing Summit 2024 Champion
Kass and Mike Lazerow have created something rare - a book packed with actionable insights and refreshing authenticity that is also just fun to read. Alumni Ventur...
Jin Kim
Executive Vice President, Alumni Ventures
Mike and Kass brought humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom to our stage—shifting minds and sparking action. Their authenticity lit up the room and elevated...
Jennifer Sampson
President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
If you are not following Kass and Mike, two of the best founders and investors sharing their advice, you are missing out! [They] are insightful, inspiring, authent...
Tami Holzman
Founder, @queenconnector
Kass and Mike brought an incredible energy to the panel, engaging the audience with their insightful perspectives and genuine passion on being entrepreneurs. Their...
Ed Reitler
Managing Partner, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLP
Their story is not just inspiring; it's a testament to the power of perseverance, the impact of visionary leadership and the beauty of struggling. But most import...
Jimmy Nguyen
Founder & CEO, New Win Global
Kass and Mike are exceptional. Their combination of experience, IQ, and EQ make them the ideal speakers at any event. Our attendees are a tough crowd - every singl...
Grant Gittlin
Founder, Lasagna & ChapterX
Kass and Mike are wildly successful entrepreneurs who have been instrumental in guiding me and countless other entrepreneurs. Their mentorship and...
Matt Britton
CEO, Suzy
"Kass and Mike Lazerow are not only two of the greatest founders I've ever worked with, but they’re also two of the greatest humans I've ever met. Their ability to...
Josh Rahn
Cofounder and Managing Partner, Oceans Venture Capital
Kass and Mike delivered an engaging, raw, and frequently hilarious keynote interview at the Primary NYC Summit that resonated deeply with both founders and investo...
Brad Svrulga
Cofounder & General Partner, Primary Venture Partners
Kass and Mike’s stories, rich with real-life examples and lessons, capture the grit and tenacity necessary to succeed as entrepreneurs. They brought a humanity...
Erik Dochtermann
YPO Marketing Network Board Member, YPO Global Marketing Summit 2024 Champion
Kass and Mike Lazerow have created something rare - a book packed with actionable insights and refreshing authenticity that is also just fun to read...
Jin Kim
Executive Vice President, Alumni Ventures
Mike and Kass brought humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom to our stage—shifting minds and sparking action. Their authenticity lit up the room and elevated every m...
Jennifer Sampson
President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
If you are not following Kass and Mike, two of the best founders and investors sharing their advice, you are missing out! [They] are insightful, inspiring, authent...
Tami Holzman
Founder, @queenconnector
Kass and Mike brought an incredible energy to the panel, engaging the audience with their insightful perspectives and genuine passion on being entrepreneurs. Their...
Ed Reitler
Managing Partner, Reitler Kailas & Rosenblatt LLP
Social
Connect with Kass & Mike
Connect Now
Email
info@kassandmike.com
For or Media/Press Inquiries
press@kassandmike.com
© Kass & Mike Lazerow 2026