5 Women to Watch in Venture - Summer Edition

This summer, we're turning up the heat as we celebrate the unstoppable power and influence of five extraordinary women in venture capital. 

‍

In this blog, we unveil the Summer Edition of our Women to Watch in Venture series, showcasing the achievements, and investment prowess of these game-changing women. From championing diversity to driving innovation, they are setting the entrepreneurial world ablaze with their passion and vision.

‍

As the temperature rises, so does their influence and impact. Read on to learn about how they are empowering startups and propelling innovative industries forward. These women are making waves!

‍

Ali Schleider

Ali Schleider is an experienced investor who joined Greycroft in 2020 and is based in New York City. She leverages her impressive investment background to focus on early-stage companies in the enterprise software and infrastructure spaces. Before joining Greycroft, Ali worked at Goldman Sachs as an investor with GS Growth. In her spare time, she is dedicated to giving back to the local community as a long-standing volunteer mentor with SEO Scholars for high school juniors. Ali graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies.

‍

‍

‍

Faith Voinovich

Faith Voinovich is an astute and determined Principal at Ohio Innovation Fund, most recently recognized for her record as a stellar investor and a strong contributor to diversifying the VC industry by her selection as a 2023 Rising Star by the National Venture Capital Association. Since joining the OIF team in 2018, she has invested in numerous startups, as well as provided valuable insights to companies across the portfolio. In her roles as board director and observer at several portcos, Faith works in the trenches alongside founders and management teams to execute on product roadmaps, drive FDA progress, and secure successful up rounds of financing – including procuring nearly $30M in non-dilutive funding for one of her biotech portcos! Faith is passionate about making venture capital accessible to all demographics and devotes significant time to mentorship for the National Venture Capital Association's Venture Forward program, gener8tor's gBETA accelerators, and Breakthrough New York's College Coach program. Prior to Ohio Innovation Fund, Faith spent time as a Stanford University Innovation Fellow, building the CoLab, a hub designed to inspire creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Faith holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the Russ College of Engineering at Ohio University where she attended as a Cutler Scholar.

‍

Olivia O'Sullivan

Olivia O’Sullivan is an unstoppable force in the tech world. As Head of Platform at Forum Ventures, she is creating meaningful communities, forging connections, and providing resources that enable early-stage founders to realize their full potential. An angel investor and mentor in her own right, she also finds time to challenge herself as an ultra-marathoner—pushing the limits of grit and resilience. To illustrate her commitment to aiding startups, Olivia has declared that Forum will write 75+ checks this year for wildly innovative B2B SaaS founders. With her enthusiasm and expertise in business and tech, she is sure to make a lasting impact on the industry.

‍

‍

‍

Marie-Christine Razaire

Marie-Christine Razaire is a motivated, innovative professional with over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her current position as a Principal at Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures landed her a feature on Global Corporate Venturing’s rising star list!  She is a highly qualified executive with specialized technical knowledge and expertise in insurance and leveraging technology solutions. Her keen ability to quickly grasp complex concepts and turn them into innovative solutions has been instrumental in her team's success. Marie-Christine also takes immense pride in her commitment to collaboration, communication, and growth. Moreover, she leverages her strong leadership skills to empower and guide her teams toward their goals. With her passion for finance, technology, problem-solving skills, drive, commitment, and insightful vision for the future; she has become a true asset to any organization she has been involved with.

‍

‍

Tai Hutchinson

Tai Hutchinson is an inspiring leader and a shining example for entrepreneurs. An intelligent professional with ambition, Tai has built a strong career in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and operations. She is one of the Committee Co-Chairs of Black Women in Venture Capital, where she is part of the mission to increase Black Women check writers to create a more equitable venture ecosystem. Tai is also the Founder and CEO of North Star Strategy Group, where she leverages her experience to support emerging and established fund managers as she revolutionizes the field of ops and portfolio management.  With her multifaceted background that includes experience at Techstars as Program Manager, Techstars NYC Alumni Chapter Co-Lead, and an Advisor to VC Unleashed, it's no wonder Tai is an authority on entrepreneurship. Tai is dedicated to making positive change in the industry as she draws upon her knowledge and experience for creative solutions and believes in baking equity into all that she does - because she knows that it's not only the right thing to do, but it has an incredible impact on society and leads to more positive economic returns. 

‍

‍
‍

If you found these remarkable women inspiring, make sure to explore our selection of the top 5 Women to Watch in Venture that we curated in Q1 2023. We thrive on connecting with influential women who uplift and empower others. If you have someone in mind who deserves to be featured in the future, let's connect and share their story!

‍