New York’s venture capital scene has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, with the city becoming a hub for startup activity and innovation. As the industry continues to evolve, a new generation of leaders is emerging. Meet the top venture capitalists under the age of 30 who are making a name for themselves in New York’s VC community.
1. **Alec Ellison**, 28, Partner at Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)
Alec Ellison is a partner at DFJ, one of the most prestigious venture capital firms in the world. Ellison joined DFJ in 2015 and has since become one of the youngest partners at the firm. He focuses on investing in enterprise software, cybersecurity, and fintech startups.
Ellison’s success can be attributed to his strong network and ability to identify promising startups early on. He has invested in companies such as DataRobot, a machine learning platform, and Axonius, a cybersecurity firm.
2. **Cristina McCormack**, 29, Principal at GV (formerly Google Ventures)
Cristina McCormack is a principal at GV, the venture capital arm of Alphabet Inc. McCormack joined GV in 2017 and focuses on investing in life sciences and healthcare startups.
McCormack has a strong background in biology and chemistry, which has enabled her to identify promising startups in the life sciences space. She has invested in companies such as Plaid, a healthcare data analytics firm, and Tuple, a medical device company.
3. **Derek Norton**, 27, Partner at Watertower Ventures
Derek Norton is a partner at Watertower Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage startups. Norton joined Watertower in 2018 and has since become one of the youngest partners at the firm.
Norton’s investment focus is on consumer technology, including e-commerce, digital media, and gaming. He has invested in companies such as Wheel, a last-mile delivery startup, and Kin, a social gaming platform.
4. **Emily Man**, 28, Principal at Georgian Partners
Emily Man is a principal at Georgian Partners, a Toronto-based venture capital firm with an office in New York. Man joined Georgian Partners in 2018 and focuses on investing in applied artificial intelligence and data analytics startups.
Man has a strong background in computer science and engineering, which has enabled her to identify promising startups in the AI and data analytics space. She has invested in companies such as Tamr, a data integration platform, and H2O.ai, an AI startup.
5. **Matt Cohen**, 29, Partner at Ripple Ventures
Matt Cohen is a partner at Ripple Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage startups. Cohen joined Ripple in 2017 and has since become one of the youngest partners at the firm.
Cohen’s investment focus is on fintech, including payments, lending, and financial services. He has invested in companies such as Acorns, a micro-investing app, and Streetbeat, a fintech startup.
6. **Samantha Wang**, 27, Principal at Union Square Ventures
Samantha Wang is a principal at Union Square Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early-stage startups. Wang joined USV in 2019 and focuses on investing in consumer technology and fintech startups.
Wang has a strong background in economics and finance, which has enabled her to identify promising startups in the consumer technology and fintech space. She has invested in companies such as Affirm, a fintech startup, and Varo, a mobile banking app.
These young venture capitalists are making a name for themselves in New York’s VC community by identifying promising startups and investing in innovative technologies. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see the impact that these next-generation leaders will have on the venture capital landscape.
