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Darren Herman

Dealmaker

Darren Herman is Managing Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, where he focuses on investments in advertising technology, marketing technology, and the broader media ecosystem. He previously served as a Partner at Bain Capital Ventures before rising to his current role, and prior to venture capital built his operating career as Founder and CEO of Varick Media Management, a pioneering programmatic media buying firm later acquired by MDC Partners, where he subsequently served as Chief Media Officer. His rare combination of hands-on company building and long-tenure institutional investing makes him one of the most recognized operator-investors at the intersection of AdTech and venture capital.

Last updated Jun 6, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Role
Managing Partner
Company
Bain Capital Ventures
Based
New York, New York, United States
Boards
1
Years in industry
20 years

Bio

Darren Herman is Managing Partner at Bain Capital Ventures, where he focuses on investments in advertising technology, marketing technology, and the broader media ecosystem. He previously served as a Partner at Bain Capital Ventures before rising to his current role, and prior to venture capital built his operating career as Founder and CEO of Varick Media Management, a pioneering programmatic media buying firm later acquired by MDC Partners, where he subsequently served as Chief Media Officer. His rare combination of hands-on company building and long-tenure institutional investing makes him one of the most recognized operator-investors at the intersection of AdTech and venture capital.

Career

  • Partner

    Bain Capital Ventures · 2014-2022

  • Chief Media Officer

    MDC Partners · 2012-2014

  • Founder & CEO

    Varick Media Management · 2008-2012

  • VP of Business Development

    The Hive · 2006-2008

Board memberships

Various Bain Capital Ventures portfolio companies

Advisory roles

Various AdTech and MarTech startups

Expertise & education

Expertise

Programmatic AdvertisingAdTech Venture InvestingMedia Buying TechnologyMarTechDemand-Side Platforms (DSPs)Data-Driven MediaStartup ScalingAgency Technology

Education

  • BS, Bentley University

Speaking topics

The future of programmatic advertisingVenture investing in AdTech and MarTechBuilding and scaling AdTech startupsData-driven media buyingThe evolution of the agency model

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Founded Varick Media Management, one of the earliest programmatic media buying agencies, later acquired by MDC Partners
  • Joined Bain Capital Ventures as a Partner focused on AdTech and MarTech investments
  • Named to multiple AdTech industry power lists and recognized as an early programmatic pioneer

Awards

Recognized on AdAge and industry lists for AdTech innovation

Publications

  • Regular contributor to industry blogs and thought leadership on AdTech trends at darrenherman.com