Rising Stars 2025

Super knowledgeable in his space, give first mindset, sees everything in his category early, always open to making intros and sharing insights.

Allison, with her healthcare chops, is able to take a very structured approach to her sourcing and diligence. She’s one of the hardest workers I know and always finds the time to be helpful to her peers in the investor community!

Created the largest Students to VC organization in Israel (the VC Club) before joining IBEX as an associare, 2.5 years later he is a Principal in Viola ventures and leading all their cyber investments. Alon is also hosting the “Ecosystem” Podcast with thousands of listeners across the country

Amit leads the entire hands-on work at Fusion and is a key contributor to making it the most notable accelerator in the Israeli ecosystem. He also contributes a lot to the ecosystem by publishing thorough studies and organizing community events. He has limitless curiosity and amazing skills to socialize and be loved by everyone!

Amy is an encyclopedia of knowledge on companies, and has an incredible relationship with founders and investors alike! She also produces great thought leadership on AI infra.

Incredibly deep healthcare domain knowledge, super helpful on diligence, and a great connector.

Arif has poise beyond his years. He is a strategic thinker, helping companies thing through complex situations. Behind the scenes, Arif is a critical resource for portfolio companies.

Billy is very sharp and has deep domain knowledge, but also incredible people skills and connects well with founders. High integrity and work ethic and is a core part of the Chicago VC community.

Brandon combines expertise in the climate and energy sectors with a collaborative, thoughtful approach to investing. He’s known for his thorough diligence, strong network across founders and investors, and ability to uncover unique opportunities others might miss. His blend of intellectual rigor and relationship-driven style makes him an exceptional emerging leader in the field.

Brian is thoughtful, diligent and well-connected. He always comes with a clear, researched and deliberate perspective for his investments. He’s also a natural super-connecter – someone who brings people together and builds close, trusted relationships across the ecosystem.

Great investor that is dilligent and making a name for himself. He helped get a great deal across the board for his firm that we worked on together. He has been traveling the country scouting great deals.

Bukie’s insights on the future of fintech are always brilliant and right on the mark. Her eye for talent and contributions to her fund are second to none.

Carson has a keen deal acumen and most importantly, he is always sharing them. The way that he describes founders and opportunities indicates all the parts of being a super important part of the venture ecosystem here in NYC and far beyond. I’d steal him if I could.

Incredible insight and depth of knowledge. Fights for his portfolio companies, is willing to get his hands dirty.

Always shares great deals. Great reviews from portfolio founders.

Daniel has done an outstanding job building out NFX’s portfolio across their crypto, AI, and frontier tech verticals. He has sourced and supported many of their most exciting recent deals, initially primarily working alongside GP Morgan Beller, but more and more independently as well.

Daniella is a highly curious and first principled thinker, who has quickly risen to become a founder-favorite at 2048. She is deeply embedded within the NYC tech ecosystem with an exceptional pulse on the most exciting up and coming builders. She is thoughtful, tenacious, and goes to bat for the founders she’s partnered with.

I’ve known David for a number of years now and think very highly of him. He is smart, funny, and always has a thoughtful take.

I worked with Deepika for over 3 years before she went to Outlander VC. She’s incredibly hardworking and driven. She’s extremely quick to understand what a company does, asks the right questions, and makes decisions quickly. She’s probably be my boss someday.

Dennis brings tremendous positive energy to the job. His enthusiasm is palpable. He is highly analytical, having brought strong analytical skills from his time at BCG. Dennis has great relationship skills including with VCs like me and with the founders he interacts with.

Derek was recently promoted to Principal at Menlo Ventures. He has been involved in the firm’s investments in AI and healthcare companies including Anthropic, Cartwheel, Neon (acquired by Databricks), Eve, Graphite, and Unstructured and he does great writing on the State of AI!

Great investor with immense hustle and eye for talent. While building his track record as an investor, Dez is genuine in uplifting communities.

Dylan has quickly risen in the NYC VC community since joining General Catalyst. He’s sharp, a super-connector, and most importantly, is a genuine investor who is dedicated to supporting founders. He always spends the time to go the extra mile and it pays off. Everyone who knows him agrees!

Sends me very interesting deals in the consumer health and wellness space. Has the best intros to operators and is extremely collaborative and relationship driven. He also hosted a huge event this year called Distilled Intelligence that was a huge success. He works insanely hard and is always traveling between NY, DC, and LA to meet with folks.

Ive witnessed Emily’s collaborative approach, deep engagement with founders, and ability to identify disruptive technologies. With strong industry relationships and a sharp investment perspective, Emily is already sourcing high-impact deals and backing promising startups. Her hands-on support and strategic insight make her a standout in the field.

Everett is a one-man climate investing practice. He consistently wins deals with top pre-seed and Series A founders. He has cultivated a reputation as a pillar of the NYC climate and energy scene.

Francis is a consistent hustler. He’s always ready to learn. He’s keeping others in mind for deals that fit their profile.

Graham has built an impressive network and consistently surfaces high-quality opportunities. He brings a thoughtful, balanced perspective to companies and has quickly become a respected collaborator among early-stage investors

Hunter is one of the sharpest investors around. Incredibly thoughtful and a great partner to founders, he should be a go to for anyone building in fintech and consumer!

Ido stands out for his collaborative approach and the genuine relationships he’s built across venture and industry, which elevates each deal he works on. He proactively supports the early-stage ecosystem too —often going the extra mile to surface deals and engage angels, even if beyond his scope of immediate work, showing real hunger

On top of her game, 100% dedication

Isabelle has become a real thought partner of mine and always seems to be ahead of the curve on areas I should be spending time in. I don’t know many other investors that are as plugged in as she is (beyond being a fantastic person!).

He is one of the best preseed investors I’ve ever worked with and I’ve been doing this for 8 years. Super sharp and highly respected.

Jackson puts others first and is always the first one to reach out and help. True genuine person and someone to go to for advice.

By far, early to every company before they inflect. First principles thinker

Solo GP fund with incredible dealflow and network

Jaya works so hard. She’s done a great job brand building and thought leadership w her blog Jaya’s Journals. She’s brought in lots of companies. Always hosting cool events for founders researchers and operators

Jenny Poth is a rising star in Chicago’s investment community because she blends sharp financial acumen with a forward-looking view of where senior living, digital health, and AI intersect. Her rapid rise to Senior Vice President at Ziegler…in under five years…reflects her ability to steward capital, shape fund strategy, and lead conversations that push the entire sector forward.

Jerry is an incredible investor and person. He is always willing to go the extra mile to help founders achieve their goals, whether in an investment or non-investment capacity. His genuine and somewhat direct nature makes each interaction with him a pleasant and productive.

Joe is an incredible mix of very high EQ and as well possesses a very high ability to dive in technologically and understand core offerings at very granular level. He’s able to think of insights other people in the room didn’t think of.

A great investor is one that sees things before others days and works as a helpful partner. John embodies these qualities and is seen as a value-added Board member.

Juliette truly doesn’t sleep, she is constantly meeting with founders and doing everything in her power to help her portfolio companies. She’s also the most connected investor I know!

Juliette is an incredibly hard worker who is fantastic to collaborate with. She has been a force at The Artemis Fund where she backs female-led teams. Looking forward to seeing her continue to rise in the VC space.

Justin Murray is a rising star in fintech innovation, driving measurable impact through his leadership of NJ FAST, the New Jersey Fintech Accelerator, where he facilitated over 250 introductions leading to more than $125 million in startup funding. He has led four strategic investments for Plug and Play — including Clarista, Penelope, Backers, and Diro — and continues to shape the regional innovation ecosystem through new initiatives like the Strategic Innovation Center for Maternal Health. His ability to bridge founders, investors, and institutions has made him a key catalyst for fintech and insurtech growth across New Jersey and beyond.

Karen is a rising star in venture capital. Her commitment to helping entrepreneurs grow, not just investing in them, truly sets her apart in the VC community. Karen brings genuine curiosity, empathy, and energy to every conversation making founders and investors feel supported and inspired. She goes above and beyond by hosting tailored events that strengthen and connect the VC community. I have no doubt that Karen will continue to shape the future of venture capital with impact and vision.

Ken is incredibly thorough and a wealth of knowledge of consumer KPIs which he is happy to share. Great connector and colleague int he industry.

Kunaal has just about the best ability of any healthcare investor I know to understand the complex value of a company and map that back to the broader market. I lean on him when I am trying to get up to speed on an opportunity and he always has the insights I need to guide my own diligence. Coming from the industry he has a ground-level sympathy for how healthcare models should be built, I look forward to collaborating in the future!

Laura is thoughtful and deep in her thesis areas, and she’s a consummate connector in the NYC venture ecosystem.

Incredible first principle driven investor with actual technical chops. She provides a lot of value back to the venture ecosystem and has learned the ropes of venture impressively fast.

First principle thinker, hard worker, true mensch.

Smart; sources and evaluates great deals.

Madi is equal parts brilliant, kind, and hard working. She’s been one of the most helpful co-investors I’ve met. I’ve seen a full board rely on Madi several times!

Matt Kelly is a force in the venture ecosystem, leveraging his vast network and sharp intuition to uncover unique insights in fintech. Since joining Flourish Ventures, he has played a key role in rapidly expanding the firm’s presence along the East Coast, proudly and eloquently championing its vision. His ability to connect, identify emerging trends, and elevate Flourish’s brand makes him an invaluable asset in the fintech world.

Max is a thoughtful, well-rounded, and highly collaborative investor who combines emotional intelligence with analytical depth. He builds meaningful relationships across the founder and investor community, asking questions and approaching every challenge with precision. Known for his diligence, passion, and strong network, Max consistently goes the extra mile to support those around him.

Maxim is an incredibly kind and thoughtful investor, always putting founders first and does things with no expectation of anything in return

Megan Cain, Principal at The Westly Group, has demonstrated exceptional talent in identifying and nurturing innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and industrial technology, contributing to groundbreaking advancements in sustainability. With her strong background in industrial engineering from Lehigh University and an MBA from Yale School of Management, combined with prior experience in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, she brings a unique blend of technical expertise and financial acumen to the venture capital landscape. Megan’s insightful contributions, including co-authoring reports on cleantech trends, position her as a rising star poised to drive the next wave of impactful investments in the VC industry.

Mercedes has the ability to access the best companies and quickly put together capital amongst some of the world’s largest family offices. She takes leadership roles that help support the ecosystem, notable on the board of VC Familia.

Has very quickly established herself as an investor to watch!

Mike is a rising star for his ability to translate deep technical insight into high-conviction investments in frontier AI and robotics. He co-led Weaviate’s Series A, recognizing the importance of vector databases before the category took off, and led the pre-seed in Kyber Labs, one of the earliest bets on robotic dexterity. His research-driven approach and nuanced understanding of embodied AI, tactile sensing, and agentic systems set him apart as one of the most forward-thinking early-stage investors in the field.

Mirit is incredibly well networked and knows how to connect with people as the perfect balance of thought-provoking, direct, transparent and kind thinker. Her dealflow is solid and founders really like her.

Molly Steinberg is a deeply mission-driven investor, dedicated to backing under-funded and under-represented founders in healthcare. Since joining a little over a year ago, she’s met with more than 500 companies, bringing exceptional energy and curiosity to every conversation. What sets Molly apart is her genuine commitment to founders-she consistently offers guidance and feedback well before any financing discussions, reflecting how deeply she cares about advancing healthcare & her personal mission of empowering diverse innovators across healthcare.

I’ve always found her to be curious as it relates to uncovering new markets as well as be a supporting partner to founders post investment

Morgan Blumberg is a rising VC star due to her role at M13, a prominent venture capital firm, where she leverages her expertise to identify and nurture high-potential startups in the AI and technology sectors. Her ability to connect and collaborate with innovative founders, as demonstrated by her involvement in events like the NYC AI founders gathering, showcases her influence and network within the startup ecosystem. Additionally, her strategic insights and hands-on approach in supporting portfolio companies position her as a key player in driving transformative growth in the VC landscape.

Naomi is a powerhouse in every sense; brilliant in her judgment and big-hearted in how she shows up for others. She’s the first to lend her time, insight, or encouragement to anyone coming up in the field. Watching how she invests and gives back has made me a better investor myself.

One of the best security portfolios having sourced / led investments in companies like Island, Sublime Security, Lakera, Endor Labs. In addition to co-leading the firms investments in Clickhouse, Securiti, Traceable, Binalyze. Also, just an all around great guy.

Stud sourcer, incredibly plugged into Canadian ecosystem.

Ola Jewusiak is one of Chicago’s rising stars in VC marketing because she blends brand building, storytelling, and execution with a level of speed and clarity that lifts entire portfolios. She’s already reshaped Jump Capital’s brand presence, built community through content and events, and become a go-to advisor for founders who need their story to actually land.

Olivia is a sourcing hustler! She’s only been at Fika for a year and has already brought in a number of awesome deals. Super positive and high energy

Paola is a prolific investor in Austin and a wonderful person. I’ve known her for years and she recently participated on a panel that I moderated, where she was fantastic.

Pat is an awesome investor, who thinks critically about both the verticals he covers and the future of the industry. He was early on vertical AI, and is now super smart in thinking about “what’s next” given saturation in the market. He’s a supreme network-builder and exceptional at building real relationships.

In her first experience raising a fund, Rachael became a core driver in successfully raising VoLo Earth’s $135M Fund II from leading institutions, and in the process grew the fund’s platform by designing high-leverage events connecting energy investors and founders across the globe. In her current role, she has already driven three new investments into founders emerging from top AI labs alongside tier-one funds and angels from OpenAI, Google, and Hugging Face leadership. She is also partnering with the firm to launch a Cyber Advisory Board with founders from cybersecurity unicorns and a fellowship program to cultivate emerging talent from leading university AI labs.

Rachel stands out as a rising star for her sharp investment instincts within the mobility ecosystem and her thoughtful, strategic approach to collaboration. She’s intentional about who she brings into opportunities, creating meaningful alignment across investors and founders alike.

Ravi is not only a true expert in his domain but also an exceptionally kind and generous co-investor and thought partner. He is our go-to person for all things insurtech, and we’re proud to see his growth into an industry leader.

Thoughtful, kind, and selfless. Richie is building a great community among founders and investors in NYC who are into fitness and wellness.

Although Ryan is early in his career, he is the highest velocity learner I’ve met at his age. Because of this, and his bias to action and ability to consistently be a self-starter, he will absolutely become a leader in this industry down the road.

Sakib was already on the list but he deserves as many nominations as possible. He manages to be both direct and helpful, no matter how much he has to gain from being either. Great friend to founders.

Always at the forefront of dealflow and extremely well networked on both sides of the pond

Sophia is the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression wherever she goes. She is a rare combination of effortlessly kind and incredibly intelligent and founders recognize this about her right away. She is a voracious learner fueled by constant curiosity and a genuine desire to leave the world better than she entered it. We need more Sophias in VC.

Sujoy has built his reputation by going all-in for the founders he supports. He’s fiercely loyal, deeply engaged, and works harder than anyone to help his companies win. His passion and integrity set a standard for what great venture partnership looks like.

Tanvi is a rising star in fintech investing, combining deep domain expertise with a hands-on approach to ecosystem building. At Intuit Ventures, she has led diligence on more than 10 fintech deals across areas such as AI x accounting, embedded finance, and health benefits, while also contributing thought leadership through published analyses and conference speaking engagements at Finovate Fall and Berkeley Haas. Beyond her role, she actively invests as an angel in startups like Truewind and Roya and has hosted multiple Intuit Ventures events that connect founders with strategic partners, strengthening collaboration across the fintech landscape.

Tara is one of the smartest and most thoughtful investors that I work with. She perfectly balances analytical rigor and qualitative, reason-based assessment. There are few people whose opinion I trust more.

Valerie is incredibly thoughtful, hard working, and true optimist. She has great access and an ability to connect with people at a deep level, helping her see great opportunities and win.

Veronica is deeply connected throughout the venture and tech ecosystem, incredibly hardworking and passionate, and one of the most thoughtful investors I’ve ever met.

He is super connected and beloved in the space. He’s made some great investments with huge potential and he’s a big hustler.

Zack is one of the brightest people I know in the VC community and has very deep and technical understanding. He is very collaborative, sharing insights and building connections with founders and other VC’s and an extremely hard worker.