Cat Middleton
GENERAL PARTNER AT THE VENTURE COLLECTIVE
We are thrilled to have Cat on our women-led VC Fund steering committee where she is helping guide us to build our platform into a valuable tool for women to invest.
Welcome to our conversation with Cat.
What is your fund’s focus?
Mission driven founders building at the intersection of impact and transformation.
What kind of companies do you invest in?
Pre-Seed & Seed World Preservation: Climate & Sustainability, Human Empowerment: EdTech, FinTech, and Future of Work Life Improvement: BioTech & Digital Health
What motivated you to create this fund?
For me, leveling the playing field as a woman, person of color, and first-generation immigrant comes from a deeply personal place — I get what it means to be misunderstood, overlooked, and underestimated.
These days, I operate with the core belief that we, as financiers of the future, are responsible for investing in companies that aspire to reduce the varying layers of palpable inequity in society. These last few years are living proof that change is not only necessary, but woefully overdue.
What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?
A lawyer
Who is your biggest inspiration: Myself; I have learned that while external influences are important, I have to be inspired intrinsically in order to fight the good fight as a underrepresented fund manager.
What is your favorite piece of advice for founders?
Luck favors the prepared.
What is the biggest change you would like to see in the funding ecosystem and why?
Traditional LP capital going to diverse fund managers, despite fund size.
What is your favorite piece of advice for women wanting to get started in investing?
Diversification is important.
Do you have a Fun Fact or favorite quote?
I spent my early formative years living in Saudi Arabia.
Please share a piece of recent news:
You can find us in Fast Company HERE.