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Katie Shea

Co-Founder & General Partner at Divergent Capital

Katie Shea is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Divergent Capital, an early-stage venture fund focused on investing in innovative technologies and scientific advancements. She has a robust background in technology startups, having spent her career as an entrepreneur, operator, and investor.

Professional Background

  • Divergent Capital: Shea co-founded Divergent Capital in April 2021, where she leads investments primarily in pre-seed and seed-stage companies, particularly those commercializing unique technological and scientific innovations. The fund has a current size of $30 million and emphasizes a hands-on approach to help portfolio companies scale and grow.145

  • Previous Experience: Prior to Divergent, Shea was a General Partner at K50 Ventures and Kairos, where she honed her skills in venture capital. She also served as the Head of Marketing at OrderGroove, an enterprise loyalty platform, and ran a growth consultancy for early-stage tech companies. Her entrepreneurial journey began when she co-founded a manufacturing company while at NYU, which was later acquired.234

Education

Katie Shea holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from NYU Stern School of Business, where she was actively involved in entrepreneurship initiatives.35

Investment Philosophy

Shea's investment strategy focuses on identifying and nurturing early-stage startups that demonstrate high potential in sectors such as digital health, biotech, and consumer internet. She emphasizes the importance of establishing strong relationships with founders and leveraging her extensive network to support their growth.45

Katie Shea is recognized for her contributions to the venture capital ecosystem and has been featured in various media outlets, showcasing her insights on startup financing and investment strategies.24

Highlights

Oct 16 · entreprenista.com
Getting Investors to Fall in Love with Your Business with Katie Shea
Jan 19 · youtube.com
The Journey from Operator to Investor with Katie Shea ... - YouTube
The Journey from Operator to Investor with Katie Shea ... - YouTube
Katie Shea of Divergent Capital talks about startup financing
Katie Shea of Divergent Capital talks about startup financing

Related Questions

What inspired Katie Shea to start Divergent Capital?
What are some of Katie Shea's most successful investments?
How does Katie Shea's investment strategy differ from other VCs?
What industries does Katie Shea focus on when investing?
How did Katie Shea transition from being an operator to a full-time investor?
Katie Shea
Katie Shea, photo 1
Katie Shea, photo 2
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Experience

Co-Founder & General Partner at Divergent Capital (April 2021 - Present)
General Partner at K50 Ventures (June 2019 - April 2021), General Partner at Kairos (August 2017 - April 2021), Founder & Growth Consultant at shea & co. (July 2015 - September 2017), General Manager, New York at Homejoy (March 2015 - July 2015), Head of Marketing at OrderGroove (January 2013 - March 2015), Co-Founder at FUNK-tional Enterprises (September 2008 - January 2013), Analyst at Goldman Sachs (June 2008 - August 2008)

Education

BA in Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship from NYU Stern School of Business

Location

New York, New York, United States