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être Venture Capital
être Venture Capital focuses on dismantling barriers that constrain innovation, specifically addressing the undercapitalization of women and minority founders.
être Venture Capital
être Venture Capital focuses on dismantling barriers that constrain innovation, specifically addressing the undercapitalization of women and minority founders. The firm invests in entrepreneurs solving real-world challenges through manufacturing critical technologies. It was co-founded by Hillary Talbot and Jenny Kuan, who brings a collaborative VC model informed by her research on Silicon Valley history.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2022
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Santa Cruz
Corporate office
Santa Cruz, CA, United States
Principals
Jenny Kuan
Managing Partner
Hillary Talbot
Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at être Venture Capital?
Managing Partners Jenny Kuan and Hillary Talbot jointly lead all investment decisions. They personally sit on portfolio company boards and handle follow-on funding allocations. There are no additional investment partners.
How does être Venture Capital source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources through cold outreach, co-investor networks, university commercialization centers like the WET Center, and referrals from its 400-person 'Venture Capital 101 for Women' alumni network. Portfolio companies such as MyBackHub originated from cold outreach.
Is être structured as a single family office or a traditional venture firm?
être is structured as a traditional venture capital asset manager, not a family office. It manages a $2M thesis fund and takes board seats, but has not disclosed a second institutional fund.
Does être participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
être exclusively makes direct investments as a lead or co-lead investor in early-stage companies. There is no evidence of fund-of-fund commitments or SPV participation.
What investment stages does être Venture Capital target?
The firm targets pre-seed to Series A. It led Hexas Biomass's pre-seed round in 2022, co-led Obatala Sciences' Series A in 2022, and led Portico's pre-seed round, indicating willingness to price rounds from inception through early institutional raises.
How is être related to Cal State Monterey Bay's Institute for Innovation and Economic Development?
Managing Partner Jenny Kuan leads the Institute as a tenured professor. The Institute houses the 'Women in VC Initiative' that Kuan launched, creating a pipeline of trained investors who can become co-investors or limited partners for the firm.
Does être Venture Capital maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
The firm runs a free education program — Venture Capital 101 for Women — that operates separately from the fund's investment activities but shares management. There is no separate philanthropic foundation.
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