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KISS: How to Create an Elevator Pitch
Talks about business development, value proposition and elevator pitch
KF
Kathryn Finney
General Partner at Genius Guild
Chicago, Illinois
Overview
Kathryn Finney is a highly accomplished Investor and Board Director, best known for her roles as Managing General Partner at Genius Guild and her investments in companies like Backpack Healthcare, Stimulus, and RareBreed Ventures. She has a strong track record in venture capital, particularly focusing on sectors such as healthcare, e-commerce, and technology, and is recognized as a Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author for her expertise in business strategy and entrepreneurship.
Work Experience
Managing General Partner
2020 - Current
Lead as Managing Partner and Executive Leadership Team member of Genius Guild, a Chicago-based venture capital firm building a new kind of venture platform focused on creating a world where everyone gets alpha—Investors, Founders, and Communities. Provide strategic corporate direction, governance, and P&L oversight. Founded, built, and scaled the firm, and led the fund formation and GP structure. Guide and provide expertise across capital raising, investments, portfolio management, investor relations, and M&A/deal due diligence, including due diligence for portfolio companies on all deals. Oversee a portfolio of 12 investments, such as a healthcare provider connecting service business, “Health in Her Hue” and “Backback Healthcare,” a child mental health telehealth platform – while also serving as Board Director. Also oversees 3 investments as an LP in other venture funds, including a pre-seed tech fund “Rarebreed Ventures,” “Capitalize VC,” a Chicago-based VC fund in tech and CPG brands, and “Refashioned Ventures,” an early-stage supply chain tech fund. Additionally, built the first VC fund focused on investing in severely represented markets and founders in the 2015 Harriet Fund. Leads long-term prominent relationships with Meta, Impact Seat, and Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda French Gates investment company – and secured key partnerships, including with Johnson & Johnson and Anthem for portfolio companies. Provide portfolio management and operational support, guiding them to scale and succeed. Mentor founding teams – guiding on market entry, growth strategies, and global expansion while overseeing performance of portfolio investments to ensure alignment with Andersen Ventures' mission and goals.
Genius Guild is a business creation platform that supports market-driven innovations to end racism.
Board Director/Observer
2022
Served as Board Director (2022-2024), providing strategic governance for this Series A, child mental health/telehealth platform that delivered ~4,000 sessions to pediatric clients and families in 2024 (serving as Board Observer since 2024). Strongly involved in a multi-million dollar acquisition of Hurdle (series A startup) – guided deal structuring/diligence (purchase of shares, ownership, IP rights, transfer of assets) – of this company that had raised $8M and was valued at $75M (2023).
Board Director
2021
Provide governance, strategy, and growth direction of this business connecting women with culturally aligned healthcare providers, and access to health content and community. Served as lead investor – guiding company’s first 2 rounds (Seed to A). Advised on talent/staffing, including C-level, and in succession planning – strategically bringing in and mentoring new CEO. Guide in organic and M&A growth, operational scaling and in securing key J&J partnership. Advise on Board dynamics and consensus building via strong communications and soft skills expertise.
A digital women's health platform connecting Black women and women of color to culturally sensitive providers, health content and community.
Raised $4,000,000.00 from Genius Guild, Stanford GSB Impact Fund, HBCU Founders Accelerator, Seae Ventures, Johnson & Johnson Impact Ventures, Inclusive Ventures Lab, Purple Sage Ventures, Inclusive Ventures Lab and Healthworx.
Angel Investor
2006
Accredited Investor topping +100 angel and VC investments – with 20 years of experience as a VC and an individual angel investor within a variety of sectors – from consumer products, mental health solutions, to football (soccer) clubs. Select Investments include: - Hanahana Beauty, a consciously clean skincare brand sold at Ulta and others - Both& Apparel, clothing designer for LGBTQIA community - Scottish football club Caledonian Braves FC - MentalHappy, mental health platform - Tudy's Kitchen- Innovative European Ice Cream brand Key Capital Raising Expert – having raised $100M throughout career from leading corporations, VC/PE funds, and UHNW Individuals, Andreessen Horowitz, Pivotal Ventures, Comcast, Silicon Valley Bank, Meta, Google, JP Morgan Chase, AMEX, and Spotify among many others.
Global Advisor to Governments, Universities, Major Brands and UHNW
2005
National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE)- Appointed by President Barack Obama and led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, 30 private sector, nonprofit, and academic leaders were appointed to serve on the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) and offer recommendations for policies and programs designed to make U.S. communities, businesses, and the workforce more globally competitive. Bill and Melinda French Gates Foundation- The Goalkeepers Advisory Group represents a diverse range of countries, sectors, and experiences. Advisors are existing members of the community who bring a diversity of skills that further the Goalkeepers initiative. Advisors advance the Goalkeepers mission through community engagement, elevation, and input. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)- Appointed by FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to serve on the DOER (Digital Opportunity Equity Recognition) Advisory Board. DOER recognizes groups and individuals who have made meaningful and measurable progress in eliminating internet inequality by making quality and affordable broadband services available to underprivileged communities. SUNY Levin's Women Entrepreneurs and Investors Advisory Council- advised on curriculum development, recruitment, and investment readiness for one of New York State largest entrepreneurial programs for women.
Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author: Portfolio Books
2020
• Authored two books with Penguin Random House Imprints, including Wall Street Journal Bestseller- "Build the Damn Thing". • First black woman business author at Portfolio/Penguin books. • Sold at auction by Mackenzie Watson/SK Literary Agency.
CEO- Founder- Board Director
2012 - 2020
Founded and led this visionary, multi-award-winning social enterprise promoting innovation, entrepreneurship– financially backed by prominent funders and Fortune 500s, overseeing P&L. Built and scaled the social enterprise as the first CEO serving over 10K women annually to a team of 40+ and a 7-figure revenue from “0,” to 4 revenue streams including corporate partnerships, and brand sponsorships, and foundations. Built and led all aspects of operations, technical, and organizational infrastructure, marketing, and community engagement – that is still used today. Conceptualized and was the lead researcher on groundbreaking Project Diane Report. Served as Board Director. Built corporate partnership arm to 40+ Fortune 500 and other leaders – including Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, Prudential, Comcast, LinkedIn, AMEX, Nasdaq, AWS, Shopify, Gusto, Silicon Valley Bank, EY, The Surdna Foundation, and many others. Was appointed by the Obama Admin for National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) and to lead Project Diane, and won several awards, including The Heinz Award with key monetary personal prize for founding/scaling digitalundivided. Also earned French American Fellow and Echoing Green fellowships.
CEO/Founder (EXIT 2013)
2003 - 2013
SOLD IN 2013. Founded, scaled, and oversaw one of the first women-led online media companies – leading through the entire lifecycle from concept and idea to its successful exit (2013). Led capital raising and scaled business to 7-figure annual revenue, securing Fortune 500 and CPG partnerships including AMEX, TJMaxx, Proctor Gamble, and Federated Department Stores. Led M&A (sale/exit) – one of the first acquisitions of a startup led by a black woman to exit to TBF Group, LLC, a NY-based multi-media company that owns the Simply Good Media Blog network (blog: The Budget Fashionista, Mighty Beauty, See Jack Shop, and others).
Education
Investments
Latest Articles
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