As the venture capital landscape in the UK continues to evolve, the contributions of female partners are becoming increasingly prominent. This series has highlighted the vital roles women play in shaping investment strategies and driving innovation within their firms. In Part 1, we introduced a selection of pioneering female VC partners who have paved the way for future generations. Part 2 further explored the achievements of emerging leaders who are making their mark in this dynamic field. Now, in Part 3, we will spotlight more remarkable women in UK venture capital, showcasing their unique perspectives, impactful investments, and commitment to fostering diversity in the industry.

Kerry Baldwin - Managing Partner and co-founder at IQ Capital

Kerry Baldwin is the co-founder and Managing Partner at IQ Capital, with over 20 years of experience in deeptech venture capital. She specializes in go-to-market strategies, strategic marketing, and competitive intelligence, leading IQ’s investments in sectors like cybersecurity, climate tech, and big data. Kerry has served as Chair of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, sits on several boards, and is an honorary Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School.

Laura Connell - Partner at Atomico

Laura Connell is a Partner at Atomico, where she focuses on growth-stage investments across enterprise, consumer, and fintech sectors. With a background spanning roles at Balderton Capital, Marcho, and Goldman Sachs, Laura has worked with founders globally, from pre-seed to public markets, and is passionate about building lasting relationships with founders to help them scale their businesses. An Oxford economics graduate and former neuroscience researcher, she is driven by a love of learning and innovation, particularly in tackling complex challenges from climate change to crypto.

Laurel Bowden - Partner at 83North

Laurel Bowden is a Partner at 83North, a global venture capital firm managing over $2.2 billion, with a focus on investing in European and Israeli entrepreneurs across consumer and enterprise sectors. She has extensive board experience, serving on the boards of companies such as Mirakl, Exotec, Celonis, and BlueVine, and previously held leadership roles at JVP and GE Capital. Laurel holds an MBA in Finance from INSEAD and a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cape Town.

Leah von Siemens - Partner at Manta Ray VC

Leah von Siemens is a Partner at Manta Ray VC, where she focuses on investments in the future of food, healthcare, and climate. Previously, she held roles as an investor at Bonfire Ventures and Santander InnoVentures and was the Chief Marketing Officer at The Collective in London. Leah began her career in sales and product marketing at Google, holds a B.A. with summa cum laude honors from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Leila Zegna - Founding General Partner at Kindred Capital

Leila Zegna is the Founding General Partner at Kindred Capital, which she co-founded in 2015 after being an active angel investor. Before that, she was on the founding team of Genapsys, a gene sequencing startup in Silicon Valley, and held various leadership roles, including GM of Plum District in San Francisco and Supply Chain Manager at Innocent Drinks in London. Leila has also worked as a consultant at Bain & Company and was an Endeavor Fellow in Argentina.

Luciana Lixandru - Partner at Sequoia Capital

Luciana Lixandru, a Partner at Sequoia Capital, grew up in Romania and earned a scholarship to Georgetown, which transformed her academic and social life. She began her tech investing career at Accel in 2011, where she partnered with companies like UiPath and developed a passion for supporting startups. Now at Sequoia, Luciana focuses on early-stage investments, believing that the strength of the founding team is often more important than business models or résumés.

Lucile Cornet - Partner at Eight Roads

Lucile Cornet, a Partner at Eight Roads, focuses on software and next-generation financial services businesses, with a passion for the European start-up ecosystem. She believes Europe will produce the next wave of global tech leaders and is excited by the growing activity in cities like Stockholm, Berlin, and Paris. Lucile emphasizes the importance of patience in building strong relationships with entrepreneurs and advises founders to carefully choose investors they can trust for long-term partnerships.

Lyubov Guk - Founding Partner at Blue Lake VC

Lyubov Guk is the Founding Partner at Blue Lake VC, a London-based early-stage venture capital firm, where she leads the Blue Lake Angel Group, focusing on supporting immigrant founders in the UK, particularly in the B2B software space. With experience in financial analysis and strategic consulting, she has also been involved in numerous startups as an angel investor across various industries, from AI to digital health. Lyubov is passionate about building strong, long-term relationships with entrepreneurs and is a finalist for the 2024 Angel Group of the Year Award by UKBAA.

Maina Bhaman - Partner at Sofinnova Partners

Maina Bhaman is a Partner in the Sofinnova Capital Strategy at Sofinnova Partners, where she leverages her extensive network and successful track record as a healthcare investor. Previously, she served as Director of Healthcare Investment at Touchstone Innovations in London, leading investments across the UK. With a longstanding passion for biotechnology since age 16, Maina also has experience in R&D with biotech firms in the UK and US, including Celltech and Oxford GlycoSciences, and holds a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Imperial Business School.

Malin Posern - Partner and Managing Director UK at Project A

Malin Posern is a Partner and Managing Director at Project A, bringing a wealth of experience from her previous role as General Partner at Passion Capital. She has held significant positions across the startup ecosystem, including being part of the executive team at Browns (NYSE: FTCH), where she played a pivotal role in the company's supply and platform strategies. Malin began her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company in Stockholm. She holds dual Master's degrees in Engineering and Biotechnology from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Manjari Chandran - Ramesh-Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners

Manjari Chandran-Ramesh is a Partner at Amadeus Capital Partners, where she focuses on investments in AI, Robotics, and Quantum Technologies. She began her career as a researcher and lecturer at Oxford University, later transitioning to technology transfer and managing technology investments at IP Group plc, where she led several successful exits and developed a £12 million accelerator fund for Quantum Technologies in collaboration with Innovate UK. With a PhD in Machine Learning and Autonomous Vehicles from Oxford and a background in engineering, Manjari is also actively involved in advising the UK Government’s National Quantum Technologies Programme and holds multiple mentorship and advisory roles in the tech ecosystem.

Maren Bannon - Co-Founder and Managing Partner at January VC

Maren Bannon is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of January Ventures, a pre-seed firm that invests in B2B startups focused on digitally transforming traditional sectors like work, health, and climate. With over 15 years of experience in operational roles at companies such as Genentech, Roche, and Applied Materials, she has held positions in product management, sales, marketing, strategy, and pricing across biotech, pharma, semiconductors, and digital health. Maren, who is based in London, holds an MBA from Stanford and an engineering degree from Dartmouth, and she also contributes to Forbes and mentors at Stanford StartX and TechStars.

Margaret Perchik - Partner at Prime Ventures

Margaret Perchik is a Partner at Prime Ventures, having joined the firm in 2017 after her tenure at MMC Ventures, where she evaluated early-stage technology investments across the UK. At MMC, she played a key role in several investments in sectors such as enterprise software, marketplaces, fintech, and e-commerce, notably in companies like Gousto and Bloom & Wild. Additionally, she was part of the founding team at Public, a UK venture aimed at leveraging investment and technology to address public sector challenges, and she currently serves on the boards of Qover and Holidu.

Maria Dramalioti-Taylor - Managing Partner at Beacon Capital

Maria Dramalioti-Taylor is the Managing Partner at Beacon Capital, a London-based venture capital firm focused on investing in enterprise software across Europe, specifically targeting companies with revenues between £1-10 million. With extensive experience in the VC landscape, she has held various board positions and invested in several startups, including Humanising Autonomy and Lifebit Biotech, while also contributing to initiatives supporting diverse communities in venture capital. Maria's educational background includes an MSc in Advanced Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College London, as well as an MBA from Cranfield School of Management and an executive education course at Harvard Business School.

Maria Rotilu - Founding Partner at OpenseedVC

Maria Rotilu is a founding partner at OpenseedVC, bringing extensive experience as an operator turned investor. She previously held leadership positions at multinational technology startups like Uber and Branch.co, serving as Country Manager and General Manager. Before founding Openseed VC, Maria was a Fund Manager at Octopus Ventures First Cheque Fund and the Managing Director of the Oxford Seed Fund, she holds an MBA from the University of Oxford and a BSc in Computer Science from Covenant University, in addition to being a certified Chartered Accountant with the ACCA in the UK.

Melanie Hayes - Managing Partner at Bethnal Green Ventures

Melanie Hayes is a Managing Partner at Bethnal Green Ventures with 15 years of experience in early-stage investment, including corporate venturing, M&A, specialist finance, and impact investment. She has led over 100 transactions totaling more than £75 million and specializes in supporting founders with business model strategy, commercial growth, fundraising, organizational development, and impact strategy. Before joining BGV, Melanie worked at Octopus Investments, Channel 4, and Deloitte, and she currently serves on the boards of three growth-stage portfolio companies and is a member of the Advisory Council for ReGenerate, a charity focused on fostering purpose-driven businesses.

Melissa Lester - Partner at Dig Ventures

Melissa Lester is a Partner at Dig Ventures, a pre-seed and seed-stage fund focusing on B2B cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and fintech across Europe, Israel, and the U.S. With prior experience as a Strategy Consultant at MuleSoft and leadership roles in account development, Melissa has a strong background in customer success and strategic planning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Management and Spanish from the University of Bath and completed the Oxford Fintech Programme with distinction at Saïd Business School.

Min Teo - Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Ethereal Ventures

Min Teo is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Ethereal Ventures, where she has been actively involved since August 2021, focusing on innovative investment strategies. With a background that includes roles as a seed investor in multiple companies and previous positions such as Partner in Venture Investments at ConsenSys, she brings a wealth of experience in both investment and operational leadership. Min holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the University of Toronto and has also participated in international human rights law courses at the London School of Economics.

Mina Mutafchieva - Partner at Dawn Capital

Mina Mutafchieva is a Partner at Dawn Capital, where she focuses on building strong relationships with founding teams in fintech, e-commerce software, and the future of work across Europe. With a decade of experience in strategy consulting at McKinsey and growth private equity at Palamon Capital, she specializes in enterprise sales and strategy, guiding companies in product development and scaling their sales and marketing efforts. Mina holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a First Class degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

Nadine Torbey - Partner at Albion VC

Nadine Torbey is a Partner at Albion VC, where she focuses on B2B software opportunities and has been supporting founders since joining in 2018. Prior to Albion VC, she invested in pre-seed and seed-stage companies at Berytech, one of the pioneering VC funds in the Middle East. Nadine holds a B.Eng in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the American University of Beirut and an M.Sc. in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship from Brown University.

Nathalie Kornhoff - Brüls-General Partner at Noteus Partners

Nathalie Kornhoff-Brüls is the General Partner at Noteus, overseeing investments in the UK and Benelux, with over 16 years of experience in technology investments and advisory. Before founding Noteus, she was a Managing Director at another major investment firm, where she established their London office and led significant investments in companies like Bird, Neo4j, and PPRO, also serving on their Boards. Nathalie began her career at J.P. Morgan in the Technology, Media & Telecom team and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, along with a Cum Laude Bachelor's Degree in International Business from Maastricht University.

Nelly Markova - Partner at Molten Ventures

Nelly Markova is a Partner at Molten Ventures, where she seeks entrepreneurs with bold visions, an obsession with product and technology, and the resilience to drive transformative change. Prior to joining Molten Ventures, she spent eight years in growth equity investing for software and consumer internet businesses, helping to establish Permira’s Growth Opportunities fund in Europe and serving as a Vice President at General Atlantic. Nelly holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in Computer Science from the Technical University of Munich.

Nina Wieretilo - Partner at Edutech Fund

Nina Wieretilo is a Partner at Edutech Fund and a University of Oxford graduate in Economics and Management with nine years of experience across startups, schools, and NGOs in the education and edtech sectors. She co-founded EduCat, a leading study abroad consultancy that achieved 4x growth in a year post-pre-seed funding and was named among Europe’s Top 10 impactful technologies. Nina also serves on multiple boards and was recognized on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and 10 Most Inspiring Young Entrepreneurs lists for 2023.

Olga Shikhantsova - Partner at Speedinvest

Olga Shikhantsova is a Partner at Speedinvest, focusing on seed-stage fintech investments since joining in March 2021. Previously, she led fintech investments at Target Global in Berlin, executing 15 investments over three and a half years, including companies like Rapyd, Zego, Kuda, and Copper. Olga holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics & Finance from a joint program between the Higher School of Economics and LSE, where she graduated in the top 5% of her class, and in her spare time, she enjoys tennis, traveling, sailing, music, and singing.

Ophelia Brown - Founder and Managing Partner at Blossom Capital

Ophelia Brown founded Blossom Capital with a mission to provide European founders with the support and investment they deserve, recognizing their ambition and talent rival those in Silicon Valley. Drawing from her experience working with exceptional teams like Robinhood and Supercell, she believes that European venture capital needs to embrace a greater risk tolerance to help startups thrive, emphasizing the importance of understanding the unique ecosystem in Europe. Passionate about helping founders, Ophelia prioritizes empathy and proactive support, fostering a diverse environment that values different perspectives, and encouraging founders to celebrate their achievements throughout their journey.

Ophelia Cai - Partner at Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company (Tiny VC)

Ophelia Cai is a Partner at Tiny Supercomputer Investment Company, where she focuses on investing in ambitious technology startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, having supported over 350 companies since the firm's inception. Prior to joining Tiny VC, she held roles at LocalGlobe and Chai Corporation, where she developed strategies for a European seed fund and implemented payment solutions for major merchants in Korea, respectively. Ophelia's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Economics and Management from the University of Oxford and a Master's in Management in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University, where she was selected as a Schwarzman Scholar.

Pamela Walker Geddes - Founding Partner at THENA Capital

Pamela Walker Geddes is the Founding Partner at THENA Capital and an award-winning MedTech investor with over 20 years of experience in healthcare, spanning Pharma, Corporates, Private Equity, and VC. She holds a PhD in Medical Sciences and an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford, with a strong reputation for guiding startups through incubation, acceleration, and commercialization. Pamela is driven by a mission to transform healthcare for consumers, patients, and professionals, advancing the future of care today.

Pippa Gawley - Founding Partner at Zero Carbon Capital

Pippa Gawley is the co-founder and General Partner of Zero Carbon Capital (ZCC), where she focuses on early-stage investments in deep decarbonization technologies. Her journey into the impact investing ecosystem began in California eight years ago as an angel investor, and she established ZCC in 2019 upon her return to the UK, aiming to address the challenges faced by frontier hard tech companies in achieving decarbonization. Before her investment career, Pippa worked in various roles within technology companies and holds a Master's degree in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Cambridge.

Pippa Lamb - Partner at Sweet Capital

Pippa Lamb is a Partner at Sweet Capital, where she specializes in technology investments across various sectors, including consumer software, AI, and deep tech, and also serves as an active angel investor and scout for venture fund a16z. Prior to joining Sweet, she worked in private equity at LVMH-backed L-Catterton and spent five years at J.P. Morgan in London and Hong Kong, focusing on equity strategy in the large-cap technology and consumer sectors. Pippa holds a BA from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Fulbright Scholar, and she is passionate about art, design, writing, and geopolitics outside of her investing career.

Pooja Patel - CFO/COO at Nosara Capital

Pooja Patel is the CFO and COO at Nosara Capital, having previously spent over eight years at Venrex, where she served as CFO Partner and Head of Finance, focusing on identifying and investing in start-ups and growth companies. She began her career at Deloitte in investment management and private equity, later working at PwC and Thomsons Online Benefits, where she gained valuable experience in finance and consulting. Pooja holds a BSc in Economics and Finance from the University of Southampton and is ACA qualified with ICAEW.

Pratima Aiyagari - Partner at Nauta Capital

Pratima Aiyagari is a Partner at Nauta Capital, specializing in enterprise software and deep tech, with over 18 years of professional experience. With a background as a software developer, she has worked in Silicon Valley on intelligent network services and has held key roles at Paladin Capital and Cisco Corporate Development, where she focused on investments in machine learning, AI, and enterprise collaboration. Pratima holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS in computer science from Virginia Tech, and she co-authored a US patent related to network device clusters and high availability.

In this final installment of our series on female VC partners in the UK, we have celebrated the remarkable achievements and influence of women in venture capital. Their diverse perspectives and strategic insights are not only driving successful investments but are also cultivating a more inclusive industry. As we continue to recognize these trailblazers, we look forward to exploring even more inspiring stories in Part 4, where we will delve into the initiatives and programs designed to support the next generation of female investors, ensuring a sustainable and equitable future for venture capital in the UK.