Los Angeles
Siena Landay, co-president
Siena is a Senior Investment Associate at TriLinc Global, focusing on analyzing investment opportunities, due diligence, deal execution, and monitoring portfolio companies across Europe, North America, and Africa. Prior to joining TriLinc Global in 2022, Siena was previously in the Markets Group in Short-Term Credit at Citigroup. Siena graduated magna cum laude from Boston University Questrom School of Business with a major in Business Administration, concentration in Finance and minor in Economics. Originally from Santa Monica, Siena enjoys skiing, tennis, hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants in her free time.
CASEY CHUNG, vp sponsorship
Casey Chung Fenlon is a Senior Associate at Highview Capital. Casey is responsible for all aspects of the investment process including sourcing, diligence, and execution of new investments. Prior to Highview, Casey worked at HarbourVest Partners where she focused on direct private co-investments and American Securities, a private equity firm based in New York, where she was an Associate on the investment team. Casey began her career at Credit Suisse in the M&A group after graduating cum laude from UCLA in 2019 with a B.A. in Economics. In her free time, Casey enjoys exploring new pilates studios, baking, and hiking.
CLARISSA BARQUIST, VP mentorship
Clarissa currently works as an Associate at Monogram Capital Partners, a consumer & retail focused private equity firm based in Los Angeles. Prior to Monogram, Clarissa was an Analyst at General Atlantic, a growth equity firm based in New York, where she focused on consumer & retail. Clarissa received her B.A. from Stanford University in 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, painting, and exploring new cafes and restaurants.
Grace Wu, VP Mentorship
Grace is currently an investor at CAVU Consumer Partners, a consumer-focused investment firm based in Los Angeles. Prior to joining CAVU, Grace was a Private Equity Analyst at Blackstone in their generalist PE group. Grace graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in political science. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, trying new workout classes, and exploring new restaurants.
jiyoung jeong, VP External membership
Jiyoung is an investor at Wonder Ventures, where she backs early stage companies based in Southern California. She began her career in education as a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan before joining as a strategy consultant at Wellspring Consulting. Jiyoung was a Factor Fellow at Primary Venture Partners and received her B.A. with Honors in History from Stanford University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a student founder. She loves practicing morning yoga, writing stories, and reading poetry.
Sarah Anania
Sarah Anania is an investment professional at Clearlake Capital, an investment firm operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit, and other related strategies. Prior to joining Clearlake in 2022, Sarah was an investment banker in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Morgan Stanley in New York where she focused on transactions across sectors as a generalist including technology, industrials, consumer, and healthcare. Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BBA in Finance and specialization in Alternative Asset Management from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. In her free time, Sarah enjoys travel, yoga, pilates, and exploring LA.
NICOLE HAGEN
Nicole is an Associate at Angeleno Group focused on deploying venture capital and growth equity into clean energy and climate solutions companies. Prior to joining Angeleno Group in 2022, Nicole worked on J.P. Morgan’s Technology & Disruptive Commerce team helping finance high-growth companies and assist with capital formation strategies. Nicole’s previous experience includes roles with the Colorado Department of Environmental Health and Sustainability, and the Impact Finance Center, a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of impact investing. Nicole received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Sustainability, Society, and Business from the USC Marshall School of Business. In her free time, Nicole enjoys skiing, surfing, and backpacking.
RILEY SPAIN
Riley is an investor who has worked at various investment firms, including SuperBloom Partners and Leonard Green & Partners. She has experience investing across industry verticals and stages, from early stage growth to mega cap buyout. Prior to working in investing, she worked as an investment banking analyst at Moelis & Company in New York. Riley graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University in 2020 with a B.A. in Economics and minor in History. During her time at Stanford, she also competed for the Division I Lightweight Rowing team and co-founded Stanford Women in Finance. Originally from Los Angeles, Riley spends most of her time outside - at the beach, hiking and water sports on the lake in the summer and skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.
DARIEN LEE, co-president
Darien currently works as a Vice President at Clearlake, an investment firm operating integrated businesses across private equity, credit and other related strategies. Prior to Clearlake, Darien was an Investment Banking Analyst at Credit Suisse, where she focused on the industrials sector. Darien graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA in 2018 with a B.A. in Economics. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, pilates, and exploring new LA restaurants.
SHALINI HAUPT, CFO
Shalini is currently an associate at Clocktower Ventures, a fintech focused venture capital firm in Santa Monica. Previously, Shalini was an investment banking analyst at Evercore in the Menlo Park technology M&A group. Shalini graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Cognitive Science and minor in Data Science. In her spare time, Shalini enjoys playing tennis, running and trying out new recipes.
SUMMER FARREN, VP mentorship
Summer is an Associate at GroundForce Capital, where she is responsible for conducting due diligence, executing transactions, sourcing new opportunities, and partnering with existing portfolio companies to drive sustainable growth. Prior to joining GroundForce Capital, Summer was an Investment Banking Associate at Jefferies, where she was in the New York City Consumer and Retail Group focusing on Beauty and Wellness M&A transaction advisory. Summer graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the Henry Samueli School of Engineering with a concentration in Technology Management and Economics. In her free time, she loves cooking with friends, exploring new countries, swimming, reading, golfing, and trying new workout classes.
katie vasquez, vp Internal membership
Katie is an Investor at Calibrate Ventures, a Los Angeles based venture capital firm investing in early-stage DeepTech companies. At Calibrate Ventures, Katie is focused on transforming industries, such as aerospace and manufacturing, through deep tech innovations, like AI, computer vision, machine learning and robotics. Katie works closely with Calibrate’s early-stage founders, providing hands-on support in go-to-market, technical and tactical strategies. Prior to Calibrate, Katie was an associate at MTech Capital investing in early-to-growth staged FinTech and InsurTech companies in the US and Europe. Katie received her Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics with honors from Brown University. Outside of work, Katie enjoys skiing, yoga, and attending concerts.
NATALIA CHU
Natalia Chu is an analyst at Ares, a global alternative investment manager with credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure strategies. She sits on the investment team within the Private Equity Group (ACOF) where she is responsible for diligencing, executing, and managing opportunities across industry verticals. Natalia graduated with a B.A. in 20th Century U.S. History from Columbia University, and enjoys hiking, traveling, and classical music in her free time.
KAREL IGNACIO
Karel Ignacio is a Senior Associate at Avante Capital Partners, where she is responsible for identifying, underwriting, executing and managing investment opportunities. Prior to joining Avante, she held corporate roles at various companies including Warner Brothers Entertainment and Paramount Pictures. Karel graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, and holds an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business. Originally from Los Angeles, Karel enjoys travel, trying new restaurants and learning to play golf in her free time.
Maya Trujillo
Maya is an Associate at VamosVentures, an LA-based venture capital fund that invests in diverse teams building tech-driven companies across four verticals - Health & Wellness, Future of Work, FinTech & Sustainability. Maya supports deal diligence & execution across sectors and works on fund strategy and fundraising efforts. A Philadelphia native, Maya graduated from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics concentrating in Behavioral Economics. In her spare time, Maya enjoys travel, golf, workout classes, and the LA restaurant scene. Maya plans her schedule around Eagles, Sixers & Phillies games.