We are women who have invested in tech startups for 20 years, with 4 successful exits. Today we are leading the 21st century evolution of venture capital. Our superpower is connecting and attracting well-versed partners, all experienced entrepreneurs and investors.
Mastersfund is named for Sybilla Masters, an early 18th-century innovator in Philadelphia who invented a machine to pound corn into what we now call grits. She left her husband and four children in 1712 to seek a patent from King George III. It was the first patent awarded to anyone in the Colonies, but it was awarded to her husband. He insisted it be written “A patent awarded to thomas Masters for an invention found out by his wife Sybilla Righton Masters”. During the three-year wait for the patent, Sybilla Masters opened a millinery shop in London, where she invented a process for creating straw hats from palmetto leaves and cornered the market, and gaining a second patent for curing the Palmetto leaves. Sybilla made her husband a very wealthy man.
It takes both men and women to set things right, and both genders benefit when everyone is equally supported and rewarded in their efforts to build new and better products and processes. But for Thomas, Sybilla Masters, like so many women, would have been lost to history. For far too long, women and people of many diverse backgrounds have been intentionally excluded from the activities of invention, business, and the ownership and rewards of their own work. Mastersfund is chartered to source, fund, and champion diverse founding teams with at least one woman in a position of strategic and operational control.
It takes both men and women to set things right, and both genders benefit when everyone is equally supported and rewarded.
SEATTLE, WA – Through her work at Mastersfund, Lakshmi Reddy transforms how founders think about marketing, customer validation, and growth. Lakshmi delivers battle-tested strategies that help entrepreneurs pivot from generic […]
A conversation with Padma Subramanian, CEO of Fyrii.ai SEATTLE, WA – Padma Subramanian, CEO of Fyrii AI, which powers API integrations for, among many others, India’s three largest private banks, […]
SEATTLE, WA – We’re excited to share this month’s portfolio company highlight: heywell, co-founded by Ashley Selman and Britt Dougherty. We first invested in heywell in May 2022, and since […]
Start-up Development, corporate growth, M&A. Co-founder and CEO of Outlines Venture Group, Active entrepreneur, co-founded both Moz and brettapproved. Global thought leader in diversity venture capital and early stage corporate governance. Worldwide speaker on financial benefits of gender lens investing, equity in entrepreneurship, emerging entrepreneurial markets and the impact of global trends on startup activity. Board director & advisor on four continents. Has helped thousands of companies to launch, grow, pivot and thrive. Tech advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Founder & co-host of CEOcoach Podcast.
Start-up Development, corporate growth, M&A. Co-founder and CEO of Outlines Venture Group, Active entrepreneur, co-founded both Moz and brettapproved. Global thought leader in diversity venture capital and early stage corporate governance. Worldwide speaker on financial benefits of gender lens investing, equity in entrepreneurship, emerging entrepreneurial markets and the impact of global trends on startup activity. Board director & advisor on four continents. Has helped thousands of companies to launch, grow, pivot and thrive. Tech advisor to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Founder & co-host of CEOcoach Podcast.
Branding, marketing & global networking. Founder, entrepreneur, board director and advisor worldwide. Founding director of Helium.com, acquired by RR Donnelley and now the RRD Content Network. One of the earliest and most respected names in global digital marketing. Pioneer SEO, launched Zillow, Philips Lifeline, and other household names onto the web, building the world’s largest consortium of digital marketing agencies. Author of Global Search Marketing. Co-host & producer of CEOcoach podcast.
Branding, marketing & global networking. Founder, entrepreneur, board director and advisor worldwide. Founding director of Helium.com, acquired by RR Donnelley and now the RRD Content Network. One of the earliest and most respected names in global digital marketing. Pioneer SEO, launched Zillow, Philips Lifeline, and other household names onto the web, building the world’s largest consortium of digital marketing agencies. Author of Global Search Marketing. Co-host & producer of CEOcoach podcast.
30 years of experience in CFO/advisory services to early-stage startup founders, for a compelling, financially based rationale for growing their businesses, building custom scale-up forecasting models, capital structure analyses, market size assessments, pitch review and other strategic services, as well as coaching on financial literacy. A both sell and buy side equity analyst JP Morgan and Oppeheimer. MBA from Stanford University and BA from Colgate University.
30 years of experience in CFO/advisory services to early-stage startup founders, for a compelling, financially based rationale for growing their businesses, building custom scale-up forecasting models, capital structure analyses, market size assessments, pitch review and other strategic services, as well as coaching on financial literacy. A both sell and buy side equity analyst JP Morgan and Oppeheimer. MBA from Stanford University and BA from Colgate University.
VC startup deal maker since 2011. Managed investment process for three funds, sourcing thousands of companies. Led screening, due diligence, term negotiations, and accepted director seats. University of Michigan Data Engineer, University of Hawaii Researcher, US Air Force veteran. MBA University of Washington, MA Sociology from the University of Hawaii, Bachelors of Sociology at Hawaii Pacific University. Actively makes a positive difference fostering profitable businesses and technology.
VC startup deal maker since 2011. Managed investment process for three funds, sourcing thousands of companies. Led screening, due diligence, term negotiations, and accepted director seats. University of Michigan Data Engineer, University of Hawaii Researcher, US Air Force veteran. MBA University of Washington, MA Sociology from the University of Hawaii, Bachelors of Sociology at Hawaii Pacific University. Actively makes a positive difference fostering profitable businesses and technology.
Financial services & global corporate development. Global business leader and a recognized change agent, advising the Boards of innovative FinTech, software and consulting firms. Served as General Manager of the Worldwide Financial Services Sector at Microsoft, CEO of the advisory research firm TowerGroup, and senior executive at MasterCard, Gartner and IBM, opening new markets in Russia (then the Soviet Union) and China.
Financial services & global corporate development. Global business leader and a recognized change agent, advising the Boards of innovative FinTech, software and consulting firms. Served as General Manager of the Worldwide Financial Services Sector at Microsoft, CEO of the advisory research firm TowerGroup, and senior executive at MasterCard, Gartner and IBM, opening new markets in Russia (then the Soviet Union) and China.
Over 25 years led financial services, payment card, and emerging technologies for multinational corporations and e-business start-ups. Expert evaluation, implementation and management of new business initiatives. Pioneered shared ATM networks and PC banking at Citibank (1980s), led MasterCard’s worldwide entry into chip cards and mobile commerce (1990s), including launches throughout Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Headed BankOne’s embryonic prepaid card. Investor and advisor to multiple early stage start-ups. BA Physics/Econ, Rice University; MBA Marketing & Management of Technological Innovations, M.I.T. / Sloan School of Business.
Over 25 years led financial services, payment card, and emerging technologies for multinational corporations and e-business start-ups. Expert evaluation, implementation and management of new business initiatives. Pioneered shared ATM networks and PC banking at Citibank (1980s), led MasterCard’s worldwide entry into chip cards and mobile commerce (1990s), including launches throughout Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Headed BankOne’s embryonic prepaid card. Investor and advisor to multiple early stage start-ups. BA Physics/Econ, Rice University; MBA Marketing & Management of Technological Innovations, M.I.T. / Sloan School of Business.
20+ years of marketing and consulting experience helping teams thrive and companies gain a permanent edge through creative strategies, integrated tactics, and digital transformation. Career-wide strategy, marketing and transformation initiatives for brands American Express, Chapstick, Diageo, and Sanofi Pasteur, JP Morgan Chase, Citi and Medco. Recognized female advocate. Lehigh University BA in Environmental Science. International MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
20+ years of marketing and consulting experience helping teams thrive and companies gain a permanent edge through creative strategies, integrated tactics, and digital transformation. Career-wide strategy, marketing and transformation initiatives for brands American Express, Chapstick, Diageo, and Sanofi Pasteur, JP Morgan Chase, Citi and Medco. Recognized female advocate. Lehigh University BA in Environmental Science. International MBA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
Over twenty years experience in SME M&A and turn around strategy. Manufacturing systems consultant for Marcam Inc. and Price Waterhouse in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Chicago with expertise in CPG. International Banker for ABN AMRO bank in the Netherlands focused on Risk Management. MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France and BA in Developmental Economics and Asian Studies from Georgetown University.
Over twenty years experience in SME M&A and turn around strategy. Manufacturing systems consultant for Marcam Inc. and Price Waterhouse in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and Chicago with expertise in CPG. International Banker for ABN AMRO bank in the Netherlands focused on Risk Management. MBA from INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France and BA in Developmental Economics and Asian Studies from Georgetown University.
Investor and lecturer on innovation and venture capital at Rice University Jones School of Business. Consultant on CFTC/SEC derivatives regulations for investment banks and energy/commodities firms. Fintech focus with Houston Angel Network. Venture Fellow at Laconia. MBA from Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business. BS in Finance and Banking from Hampton University. Graduate of VC University: Venture Finance certificate program by National Venture Capital Association and UC Berkeley Law.
Investor and lecturer on innovation and venture capital at Rice University Jones School of Business. Consultant on CFTC/SEC derivatives regulations for investment banks and energy/commodities firms. Fintech focus with Houston Angel Network. Venture Fellow at Laconia. MBA from Tulane University A.B. Freeman School of Business. BS in Finance and Banking from Hampton University. Graduate of VC University: Venture Finance certificate program by National Venture Capital Association and UC Berkeley Law.
20+ years cumulatively serving on Boards of private tech and finance companies, 15+ years speaking at conferences and publishing in journals related to family offices, academic research, education, and finance, and 10+ years running his family office. Operates at the intersection of finance, psychology, and technology. Seamlessly combines being an award-winning engineer, researcher, teacher, and storyteller who has contributed to the birth of three fields of academic research (education, nanomaterials, AI & philosophy) with being a founder, fund manager, and strategic advisor across multiple fields of technological and financial innovation.
20+ years cumulatively serving on Boards of private tech and finance companies, 15+ years speaking at conferences and publishing in journals related to family offices, academic research, education, and finance, and 10+ years running his family office. Operates at the intersection of finance, psychology, and technology. Seamlessly combines being an award-winning engineer, researcher, teacher, and storyteller who has contributed to the birth of three fields of academic research (education, nanomaterials, AI & philosophy) with being a founder, fund manager, and strategic advisor across multiple fields of technological and financial innovation.
Longtime board/strategic advisor to organizations, private family offices, and asset allocators on asset allocation for sustainable investing models and inclusive capital. Founding member of the Silicon Valley Blockchain Society. SDG Impact Circle Fellow. Fellowships, board seats, and research appointments at UC Berkeley and the University of Cambridge. Recognized for work on FinTech, alternative finance, and crowd innovation. Advisor to large funds, major international foundations, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Fortune 50 companies, the World Bank, national governments.
Longtime board/strategic advisor to organizations, private family offices, and asset allocators on asset allocation for sustainable investing models and inclusive capital. Founding member of the Silicon Valley Blockchain Society. SDG Impact Circle Fellow. Fellowships, board seats, and research appointments at UC Berkeley and the University of Cambridge. Recognized for work on FinTech, alternative finance, and crowd innovation. Advisor to large funds, major international foundations, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Fortune 50 companies, the World Bank, national governments.
Financial strategy & execution. Director of Finance (CFO) of Whistler BC, CEO Pique Financial Works, seasoned investor, advisor, board director, & tech entrepreneur. Extensive experience on Wall Street in fiduciary roles. Transitioned to Private Equity and Angel Investing in 2013, served as due diligence lead on many seed-stage deals, as well as Advisory Board member & interim CFO.
Financial strategy & execution. Director of Finance (CFO) of Whistler BC, CEO Pique Financial Works, seasoned investor, advisor, board director, & tech entrepreneur. Extensive experience on Wall Street in fiduciary roles. Transitioned to Private Equity and Angel Investing in 2013, served as due diligence lead on many seed-stage deals, as well as Advisory Board member & interim CFO.
Managing Director at the Sorenson Impact Institute who leads the Impact Finance team. Led the Department of Education’s Pay for Success initiative for the Obama Administration and Advised HRSA on MIECHV Pay for Outcomes. As adjunct professor taught at the finance department of the Gore School of Business at Westminster College and the economics department at the University of Utah. Over 40 years of experience spanning structuring innovative financial transactions using big data, impact finance and outcomes-based financing.
Managing Director at the Sorenson Impact Institute who leads the Impact Finance team. Led the Department of Education’s Pay for Success initiative for the Obama Administration and Advised HRSA on MIECHV Pay for Outcomes. As adjunct professor taught at the finance department of the Gore School of Business at Westminster College and the economics department at the University of Utah. Over 40 years of experience spanning structuring innovative financial transactions using big data, impact finance and outcomes-based financing.
Managing Director at HCP Asia, advising private equity and growth capital firms. A seasoned leader with global expertise in Healthcare, FMCG, and Retail, having held executive roles at Danone, SC Johnson, and Yum. Most recently, President of Mundipharma’s Global Consumer Health business, leading its successful exit to TPG. Proven track record in accelerating growth, driving turnarounds, executing high-impact M&A, and delivering operational excellence. MBA from INSEAD.
Managing Director at HCP Asia, advising private equity and growth capital firms. A seasoned leader with global expertise in Healthcare, FMCG, and Retail, having held executive roles at Danone, SC Johnson, and Yum. Most recently, President of Mundipharma’s Global Consumer Health business, leading its successful exit to TPG. Proven track record in accelerating growth, driving turnarounds, executing high-impact M&A, and delivering operational excellence. MBA from INSEAD.
