#newtovc is an educational series for a group of relatively new investors who want to be exposed to the best venture and startup thinking. This is a group of accredited investors and non-partner VCs that skew, not exclusively, but intentionally toward diverse backgrounds. We're going to be discussing how pre-seed and seed investors should be thinking about goalsetting for the companies they invest in now--to understand where the goalposts have moved for Series A firms in this current economic environment.

Speakers: 

• Niko Bonatsos, Managing Director at General Catalyst

Niko partners with founders from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. Niko focuses his investment strategy on finding first-time technology founders with strong product instincts, a robust appetite for learning, and a desire to create innovations with the potential to benefit millions. Niko is currently obsessed with partnering with technical Gen Z founders who are building products for themselves. Prior to joining General Catalyst, Niko attended Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar earning an MS in Management Science and Engineering. He has studied in several countries, earning additional degrees in Manufacturing Engineering & Management and Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and worked as a part of the R&D team for Yokogawa Electric Corporation in Japan.

• Jodi Kessler, Partner at 3L

Jodi invests in growth stage companies that are leveraging data and technology in unique ways to transform large legacy industries that are undergoing a shift to digital. Since joining 3L as a part of the founding team in 2017, she has invested in and worked alongside companies across a variety of sectors including Enterprise Software, Ecommerce and Ecommerce Infrastructure, and Real Estate. In addition to her 3L experience, Jodi spent time as an Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley, and was also a part of the Operational Excellence Practice at Apax Partners, where she worked closely with the firm's consumer, retail, media and technology businesses on strategic initiatives to drive growth, profitability and digital transformation.

Jodi has an economics degree from Harvard University, where she was also a member of the Women’s Varsity Ice Hockey team, and earned her MBA from Columbia Business School. In addition to spending her free time with her husband and two children, Jodi enjoys working on her golf game and recently picked up Paddle.

• Laura Sillman, Vice President of Left Lane Capital

Laura Sillman is Vice President at Left Lane Capital, a venture capital and early growth equity firm that invests in high-growth internet and consumer technology businesses. At Left Lane, Laura focuses on fintech, proptech, healthcare services, gaming & SMB software. Laura sourced & led investments including Bilt Rewards, Arc Technologies, Hnry, GHC, Fractional, RDP, Masterworks, as well as other announced transactions.
Laura graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with a MBA in Finance & Innovation. While at Wharton, Laura ran Rough Draft Ventures, General Catalyst’s student-led platform that invests in companies founded on campuses (undergrad through PHD). After graduating, Laura joined the firm full time, focusing on seed & pre-seed investments in the consumer space. 
Before her time in venture capital, Laura was Director of Strategic Operations at Rumble Boxing, where she managed key growth initiatives from two studios through the sale of the business, which included launching the Training & Digital Platforms, supporting 3 successful fund raises totaling over $40M, and executing partnerships for the organization.

Moderator:

Charlie O'Donnell, Founder & Sole Partner at Brooklyn Bridge Ventures

Brooklyn Bridge Ventures manages three funds, leading or co-leading investments of around $400,000 in New York City companies that have yet to raise $750,000 in prior rounds. BBV is the first venture capital fund based in Brooklyn, NY. Conversations often start pre-product and pre-deck.

A special thank you to Republic for partnering with Brooklyn Bridge Ventures for this event!

Republic is a global private fintech firm democratizing startup investing; Republic's Founder Community, headed up by Zehra Naqvi is a new in-person NYC event series focused on bringing together exceptional founders and investors.