Team Collaborative
We are excited to welcome some new faces to the Collaborative team. Specifically, Nathan Friedman, Mimi Valdés, and Dwipal Desai are joining as venture advisors.
Nathan is one of the smartest marketing and communications executives I’ve had the chance to work with. He began his career at Ogilvy where he quickly became the youngest managing director in the history of the global agency.
Mimi’s creative skills and vision are truly world class. As former Editor-in-Chief of Vibe magazine, and Chief Creative Officer for musician Pharrell Williams, she has impacted culture on a global scale.
Dwipal comes with a breadth of experience as an engineer, product leader, and entrepreneur. He was an early YouTube engineer where he ultimately led their mobile efforts. His last startup was acquired by Samsung where he led product for Samsung VR.
I have no doubt our portfolio companies will benefit from their support.
Beyond these additions, Sophie Bakalar, will be transitioning from her role as a principal at the firm to venture partner, while she prepares to launch her own startup. For those of you who have had a chance to work directly with Sophie, you’ve seen firsthand her passion and smarts — particularly in the evolving world of consumer products and retail. We are excited to continue to work together and support her new business.
Finally, as we announced last week, we are launching a two-year analyst program. Help us find the right people, and if we end up hiring the person you recommend, we will give $1000 to the charity of your choice.
—Craig ⚡