My name is Katherine, and I am an investor at Notation Capital, a New York based venture-capital fund that focuses on investing in pre-seed stage startups. I have lived in NYC for the past 8 years, but I grew up moving between California, Kunming, and Hong Kong. I am fluent in English, Mandarin, and (some) Cantonese.
I started my early career in law, and after going to law school and obtaining my J.D degree, did a 180 and joined a venture-backed startup in NYC as a Business Development lead. My path in venture capital was totally unplanned, but I love what I do now, and am always open to new ideas and meeting new people!
Looking back at my career path, I've always been driven by *who* I wanted to work and build with-- and that's lead me from law to crypto to venture capital. I work best in a supportive environment, and truly believe that great working relationships and authenticity can truly bring out the best in people. That's a big reason why I enjoy my job as an early-stage investor, because the relationship with entrepreneurs is collaborative and supportive.
Team (background and execution style), Market, Timing
I work best with founders who are truly passionate about solving the problem. Generally speaking, all of us at Notation work quite closely with our founders- as "day 0" investors, we make selective and concentrated bets and strive to be the best support system to entrepreneurs we partner with.
Be authentic, and don't ever sell yourself short!
The three values that I hold in high regard are authenticity, passion, and reliability. I look for these values in founders and get really excited when I meet someone who is truly excited about solving a problem and building; who are thoughtful in their approach; and can be comfortable with uncertainty and saying "I don't know".
One other really big driver for me personally is thinking about the impact that I can make. Diversity in tech (especially at the founder/ CEO level) has long been a serious issue, and I am deeply committed to uplifting and funding underrepresented founders.
As someone who has spent her entire adult life in NYC, I've been exposed to countless incredible and interesting people in so many different industries. One of the best and most magical things about NYC is the creativity and diversity in its communities. Looking back, the NYC tech scene has really transformed and grown, and I think this is only the beginning. As a primarily NYC- focused firm, we have long supported NYC- based entrepreneurs, and are excited to continue partnering with more NYC founders in the many years to come!
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