Leslie Feinzaig (born c. 1979) is a Costa Rican-American venture capitalist and technologist who is the founder and chief executive officer of the Graham & Walker venture fund. She founded the Seattle Female Founders Alliance and an accelerator in support of women entrepreneurs.
Leslie Feinzaig | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1979 |
| Education | University of London Harvard University |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Eliécer Feinzaig Mintz (cousin) |
Early life and education
editFeinzaig was born c. 1979 in San José, Costa Rica.[1][2] Her Jewish grandparents fled Poland at the onset of the Holocaust.[2] Feinzaig's grandfather was denied entry at Ellis Island due to the Immigration Act of 1924 and eventually settled in Costa Rica.[2] She was raised in Costa Rica where she worked as a store manager and a call center employee.[3] Feinzaig completed a bachelor's degree at the London School of Economics.[1] In 2005, she enrolled at Harvard Business School, earning a M.B.A. on a full scholarship.[2]
Career
editFeinzaig is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and technologist.[4] On a H-1B visa, she worked for Microsoft during the Great Recession.[2][5] Feinzaig left Microsoft upon receiving her green card in 2013.[2] She also worked at Big Fish Games and Julep.[1] In 2016, she created Venture Kits, a Seattle-based subscription company that sells entrepreneurial educational children's toys.[1][6] In February 2017, Feinzaig founded the Seattle Female Founders Alliance for female founders of venture-scale startups.[7][2] In 2018, she founded Ready Set Raise, an equity-free accelerator for women.[8] As of 2024, Feinzaig is a managing director of the Graham & Walker venture fund.[9] During the 2024 United States presidential election, she was a primary organizer of VCsForKamala.[9]
Personal life
editFeinzaig is married and has two children.[1] They reside in Seattle, Washington.[1] Costa Rican legislator Eliécer Feinzaig Mintz is her cousin.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Stiffler, Lisa (May 18, 2018). "Working Geek: Female Founders Alliance CEO Leslie Feinzaig wants to help women score capital". Geek Wire. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Deutch, Gabby (2022-04-27). "The VC who believes investing in women is good business". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "Seattle VC Profile: Leslie Feinzaig, Female Founders Alliance". Ascend.vc. 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ "About". Graham & Walker. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Nickelsburg, Monica (December 31, 2017). "Watch: The immigrant's journey, told by 3 foreign-born technologists who want to change the world". Geek Wire. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Nickelsburg, Monica (May 10, 2017). "Pitches, pictures, and more from the Seattle Female Founders Alliance launch party". Geek Wire. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Lerman, Rachel (2017-05-20). "Seattle startup founder sought a business partner, got a women's alliance instead". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ Mascarenhas, Natasha (2020-10-19). "Ready Set Raise, an accelerator for women built by women, announces third class". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
- ^ a b Schleifer, Theodore; Isaac, Mike; Griffith, Erin (2024-07-31). "More Than 100 Silicon Valley Investors Pledge to Support Kamala Harris". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-01.