Female Investors and Founders Leading the Charge: Stories of Success and Diversification

The SPS Entrepreneurs Network presents its webinar series featuring topics around entrepreneurship, startups, and venture capital.

Female Investors and Founders Leading the Charge: Stories of Success and Diversification features a panel of investors who have successfully raised funding and are driving diversity in the venture capital and private equity ecosystem, and building startups.

Attendees will gain insights from the compelling stories of successful investors, providing inspiration and actionable advice for aspiring investors and entrepreneurs.

The webinar will showcase the journeys and achievements of successful female investors, highlight the importance of diversity in the VC/PE and startup ecosystems. The panelists will share any challenges and provide actionable insights and advice for aspiring female investors and entrepreneurs.

Connie Koh '23SPS, Applied Analytics will serve as the moderator. There will be a Q&A from the audience following the discussion.

Interested in joining the network? Sign up here.

About the Speakers

Connie Koh '23SPS, Moderator

Connie is a member of the working group for SPS Entrepreneurs Network and is currently a Venture Analyst at Syndicate 708 & Fall Investment Associate at Mountain Crest Investment Partners

Micki Weiner '24SPS

Petal + Ash was founded with the mission to empower women through comfortable lingerie, made from materials safe for the most intimate parts of their body. Inspired by her experience as a professional dancer, founder Micki Weiner sought to create a brand that prioritizes both comfort and sustainability. By using safe, natural materials and adopting a circular business model, Petal + Ash aims to redefine the lingerie industry.

Angela Jhanji, SPS Faculty

Angela joined EQT Partners in April 2022 to lead Sustainability Integration for EQT's Private Capital business line. Her role is to drive sustainability value creation through the investment lifecycle by supporting ESG due diligence and the portfolio company integration of sustainability into the full potential plan. She has worked with public and private companies in the sectors of healthcare, software, technology, professional services and consumer goods in both the UK and United States.

Angela graduated from Columbia University from School of International Public Affairs with a Masters in Public Administration, where she now teaches as an adjunct professor at the Columbia University on the topic of Sustainability Value Creation in Private Markets.

Jenny Fielding

Jenny Fielding is one of the most active global pre-seed investors, having invested in 300+ companies as the first money in. As the cofounder and Managing Partner of Everywhere Ventures, Jenny has built a thriving community of 500+ founders and operators who help source, diligence, and invest in the next generation of startups across 3 core verticals: money, health, and work.

Prior to launching her own fund, Jenny spent 7.5 years as the Managing Director of Techstars where she invested in a portfolio of companies with a current market cap over $10B. Jenny is a 2x founder, a lawyer by training, and an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Cornell Tech.

Manica Blain

Advisor, Investor, Board Member to Early-Stage Consumer Brands

With over 15 years of experience in investment banking, private equity and venture capital (including co-founding a $32mm early-stage consumer fund), Manica now works directly with passionate founders as they build, grow and scale the iconic consumer brands of the future.

Questions? Please contact us at spsalumni [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu.