My Work
Work Experience
Present
Investor at Fortify Ventures
Fortify Ventures might be my most exciting project yet. It combines my love for zero-to-one building with my enthusiasm for venture capital. Fortify Ventures, Fund I was raised and deployed nearly 15 years ago. Since then, the fund has achieved impressive returns as the first institutional check into countless companies like Hinge, ID.me, Social Tables, IntroHive, Venga, and more.
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Today, we are re-building Fortify Ventures, an early-stage venture fund to challenge the status quo of traditional venture capital. Fortify Ventures is a people-focused venture fund investing in incredible teams that aim to create disruption in industries with stagnant innovation. I encourage you to learn more about what drives our conviction for people and what separates Fortify Ventures from other venture capital funds by reading our Playbook — reach out here, and I'd be happy to provide a copy.
2023 - 2024
Associate at Seaside Ventures
Venture Capital is what drives and excites me. I spent my time as an Associate at Seaside Ventures primarily responsible for our deal flow, but the learning didn't stop there. I reviewed hundreds (maybe even thousands) of decks, met with countless founders, and was the first line of inquiry for anyone looking to raise from Seaside. I was fortunate enough to have unfettered access to the admin, LP, and growth sides of the fund, learning in detail about every aspect of fund management. I also had intimate experience on the platform side, learning to become an asset to Seaside's portcos. Being at Seaside taught me to become a "master connector," bringing together great people.
2022
Chief Growth Officer at Handle Delivery
At Handle Delivery, I served as the Chief Growth Officer, and was primarily responsible for the expansion of the breadth and depth of the company. This included opening and running new locations, but also meant finding new and innovative ways to squeeze the most out of the existing locations we had. Like any startup, the four of us on the founding team/C-Suite wore many hats. I was also in charge of all product buying, store management, and other operational roles.
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I'm thrilled that we won the 2022 TroyLabs DEMO Day Pitch Competition, demonstrating that Handle was a serious player in the last mile delivery industry and one of the most prominent startups at USC.
2021
Supply at Duffl
Duffl was my first dive into the world of startups. I initially joined as a Racer/Captain, packing and delivering orders on an electric scooter. On my first shift, I ate shit on the scooter and tore up my face and leg (I'll happily show you a picture). I loved Racing too much to give it up completely, but traded hours Racing for supply work. At first, I was stocking shelves. Before I knew it, I was responsible for nearly all the ordering of the store, and had no time left for Racing. Within a few weeks, I was taking on more than just ordering, and took on the entirety of supply, including new product introduction, promos, and strategic brand partnerships. This expertise for brand partnerships and growth through product offerings is a skill I would take with me to Handle.
2021
Intern at Telos Capital Management
Interning at Telos Capital Management yielded a summer full of learning. I had the opportunity to shadow both the advisors, as well as the portfolio managers. Learning how, why, and when to build a portfolio for clients gave me foundational financial knowledge that I use every day. Working with tools like Morningstar, Tamarac, and eMoney also gave me insight into how client and portfolio management is actually done. I had the opportunity to interface with clients, walk them through Roth conversions, and explain why their money was being invested in the way that it was. It taught me the importance of perfect work — never shipping out a product with errors. I also learned quite quickly that every job is a sales job, no matter what role you play.
Education
University of Southern California — Marshall School of Business
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Cohort 10
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
University of Southern California — Marshall School of Business
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Emphasis in Entrepreneurship – STEM Designated
Skills
& Expertise
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Pitch Deck Review
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Consumer Health Tech
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Future-of-Work
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Holistic Health, Wellness, and Outdoors
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Last Mile Delivery
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Fund Admin & Operations
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Startup Fundraising
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Startup Operations
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Due Diligence (all aspects)
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User-Centric Design​