Kristoffer Kizer

Principal

2025 - Current

• Advised Web3 founders on their Go-To-Market strategy (i.e., token launches, platform design strategy, etc.) and fundraising/capital raising strategy (i.e., pitch decks, investor-facing data rooms, investor database, etc.) by leveraging Iron Key's global network of subject matter experts. • Led marketing strategy support for early-stage DeFi projects, advising founders on brand positioning, pre-TGE messaging, and community engagement strategies across Twitter, Discord, and Telegram. • Developed go-to-market playbooks and pitch narratives to drive awareness, investor alignment, and user onboarding — directly contributing to token traction and early liquidity planning. • Collaborated with content creators and marketing teams on outreach strategies, helping founders craft whitepapers, token explainers, and investor-facing decks.

Senior Associate, Deal Origination Team

2023 - 2025

Iron Key Capital is a syndicate backed by 200+ LPs globally and deploys $1MN+ annually. We write checks $100k - $250k in pre-seed and seed-stage founders building decentralized technologies solving for both consumer and enterprise adoption in Web3, Web3 AI, and Beyond-Web3 across U.S., Europe, LATAM, APAC, and MENA regions. • Conducting thorough due diligence and investment analysis for various early-stage blockchain startups, identifying high-potential opportunities across DeFi, Metaverse, and AI-driven blockchain sectors. • Identifying and evaluating Seed and Series A investment opportunities, collaborating closely with founders and industry experts to assess technological viability and market fit using Iron Key's proprietary deal evaluation framework. • Conducting in-depth market analysis, staying updated with the latest trends, emerging technologies, and competitive landscape within the Web3 landscape to position Web3 startups attractively to potential investors. • Cultivating and nurturing relationships with a global network of LPs, supporting ongoing fundraising efforts, and fostering a collaborative investment community. • Contributing to developing an Angel/VC Investor training program for aspiring Web3 VCs/Angels, exponentially growing our global decentralized network of subject matter experts, LPs, Venture Partners, and Scouts.

Venture Scout - VC in Residence (VIR) Program

2024

LvlUp isn't your one-size-fits-all fund model. They are a multi-stage venture firm designed to identify and support the best and brightest founders from around the globe, adding value at every step of the startup journey. My role is to source deals for LvlUp Ventures and their esteemed Funding Partners. These partners collaborate closely with LvlUp Ventures to unlock incredible opportunities for the scouts and founders in their ecosystem. Funding partners include Musa Capital, Greycroft, Expert Dojo, OutlanderVC, Pegasus Angel Accelerator, Santa Barbara Venture Partners, SPIN Labs, Brillant Minds, and M13 Launchpad. Here's an overview of their value-add infrastructure: • LvlUp Ventures Fund - Specialize in early-stage startups with value-focused seed investments, bespoke acceleration through their NextUp model, and strategic partnerships with industry giants like Google and Pipedrive to offer access to opportunities like pilots, investments, and M&A. Average Investment Amount: $150k - $250k in Early-Stage, 50+ partner organizations, 40% Female or POC Founders. • NextUp Pre-Launch & Scale: For the NextUp Pre-Launch Hybrid Accelerator-Venture Studio, LvlUp come in when these entrepreneurs have a Business Plan and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) but are yet to launch and raise their seed round. They've helped scale 50+ game-changing emerging technology startups cumulatively raising over $100M. • NextUp Scale is only VC accelerator partnering with mid-market and public technology startups to unlock their next level of growth—backed by the expertise of 20+ Exits/IPO's, $250M+ raised. 5x Average Revenue Growth within 6 months of joining, <4% Company Failure Rate, 10x Average Userbase Growth within 6 Month, and up to 250% valuation growth within 12 months. • LvlUp Labs is the founders-only community built for top-tier founders powered by the expertise, resources, and ecosystem of LvlUp Ventures.

Investment Strategist

2024

The mission of You Will Raise Capital is to offer risk-free capital-raising solutions for seed stage to Series B founders, providing a comprehensive suite of services tailored to their unique needs. By leveraging the expertise of its founders, the company aims to accelerate growth and fuel the success of promising start-ups, helping them secure the investments they need to thrive.

Syndicate Investor

2023

VU Venture Partners is a global early-stage tech VC fund investing in the world's largest market opportunities., VU is looking to back founders who are solving humanity's biggest challenges. VU's investment teams collectively source 4,000-5,000 Companies per Quarter, while the fund sources approximately 20,000 deals annually. Since successfully completing Venture University, VU Investor Alums are invited to join "Bonded." Bonded is VU's Affinity Investor Syndicate. VU Venture Partner's Fund Performance: • Top decile performance with an IRR of ~72%+ • ~90+ Portfolio Companies • Benchmarked As A 97% Top Performing Fund • Managed by senior investment partners with 50+ years of investment experience and who have some of the earliest and largest investors in 20+ unicorns, valued at $1B+ each

Venture Associate, FrontierTech & Web3 Investment Team

2022 - 2023

Venture University is regarded The World's Leading Investor Accelerator For Venture Capital, Private Equity, & Angel Investing. Venture University's Investor Accelerators Are Designed For Individuals Looking To Gain High Quality Investment Experience In Order To Break Into The VC/PE Industry, Launch Their Own Funds, & Advance Their Careers. Collectively, VU's investment teams sources 4,000-5,000 Companies per Quarter, while the the fund sources approximately 20,000 deal per year. • Completed VU's Venture Capital Investor Accelerator Program, which is an 11-week live Triple Certificate Program that includes 50+ hours of Three Executive Education Programs (i.e., VC Masterclass, Advanced VC Modules, Fireside Chats) and a Venture Capital Investment Apprenticeship. During this apprenticeship, I worked closely with the general partners, who had 45+ years of VC experience and invested in 10+ unicorns. • Led sourcing and diligence for 150+ early-stage companies across FrontierTech (AI, Automation, Neurotech) and Web3. • Drafted investment memoranda and contributed to internal investment committee meetings. • Collaborated with Partners on deep sector-specific market mapping (AI accelerators, robotics platforms, autonomous systems). • Forged over 130+ strategic alliances within the Web3/blockchain and crypto startup community by championing 3-7+ investment deals per quarter, driving portfolio diversification across the Web3/Crypto vertical.

Syndicate Investor

2023

Venture Fellowship

2021 - 2023

Rebel One (RB1) is an early-stage fund and global investor network accelerating rebel founders for a better world. RB1 aims to democratize access to investment while solving the world’s most systemic problems aligned with zero goals (i.e., zero pollution, zero poverty, and zero diseases). • Sourced and analyzed 500+ deals per quarter (i.e., pre-seed, seed—stage, and Series A) across various verticals. • Advise 10+ startup founders on scaling up their ventures (i.e., talent acquisition, business development, revenue management, customer fulfillment, etc.) to achieve a $100M - $1B exit within 5 years. • Assisted in evaluating, screening, and selecting new impact investing opportunities from diverse founders in the U.S., Africa, and LATAM.

Fractional Chief Innovation Officer

2019 - 2025

• Advised 30+ early-stage founders on how to build repeatable, disruptive, and scalable businesses using the Exponential Organizations methodology, which resulted in integrating emerging and exponential technologies. • Executed 15+ virtual presentations informing industry leaders on exponential technologies (i.e., IoT, AI/VR/MR, Robotics, 3D printing, blockchain, etc.) to help them create disruptive business models that will increase revenue and time-to-market cycles. • Taking an initiative to help inject $100B in Black Generational Wealth by 2030 by partnering with 1863 Ventures on the “New Majority” project (traditionally labeled underrepresented groups).

Senior Associate Consultant, Solution Delivery

2021 - 2024

Kantar is the world’s leading market research consultancy that helps brands grow by using data to understand people. This team specializes in turning quantitative and qualitative consumer data into actionable insights for clients using data visualizations and data-driven storytelling. Accomplishments listed below: • Generated 30+ consumer insight reports (i.e., media effectiveness, product testing, new product development, ad copy testing, etc.) using Kantar’s product solutions and analytical frameworks to deliver client reports for 20 of the top 100 brands (i.e., advertisers, media publishers, and agencies). • Improved operational efficiency, client relations, and service delivery by addressing clients’ needs and solving client business problems using Kantar’s proprietary analytical frameworks and agile research software platforms; this led to an ongoing 95% client satisfaction score per each report across 10+ accounts. • Strategized with other senior leaders and subject matter experts to create an insights-driven product innovation infrastructure for a $10MM custom innovation research account within the tobacco industry. This resulted in the client making new product development decisions on real-time consumer insights

Associate Account Executive, Digital Experience Team

2018 - 2020

We Are Unlimited was a start-up creative agency. I helped lead the Digital Experience Team for the McDonald’s brand across business verticals such as McDonald’s.com, Global Mobile App, McDonald’s Social, and McDelivery. This team maximized creativity, technology, & partnerships to drive consumer purchase behavior, deliver cutting-edge brand innovation, and elevate affinity through digital experiences and platforms. • Executed and crafted creative briefs for multichannel productions within designated business verticals such as McDonalds.com, Global Mobile App, and McDelivery, as measured by delivering projects to meet deadlines by leading cross-functional teams. • Discovered and investigated unique disruptive opportunities for brand growth by monitoring emerging media and exponential technologies to provide innovative thought leadership for clients. • Orchestrated McDonald's customer obsession strategic initiatives (i.e., mobile app) by solving unforeseen challenges and communicating with senior leadership and day-to-day client. • Conduct sophisticated research and analysis on market, competitive, and customer trends using sound analytical insights to report findings to the Global Consumer Insights Team for the McDonald’s brand.

Business Strategy/Go-To-Market Strategy Intern

2019 - 2020

This is an 1871-backed early-stage online memorial startup. LifeWeb harnesses the outpouring of love that happens when someone passes to capture their essence authentically, honor them, and comfort their family that they were seen in this world. • Developed a Go-To-Market strategy for a consumer early-stage startup within the online memorialization space. • Conducted market research and analysis to identify new disruptive opportunities and inform ongoing strategic planning. • Recommended partnerships to expand the company user base and diversify revenue streams. • Designed a competitive analysis framework to stay ahead of market trends and the competitive landscape. • Assisted with conducting financial analysis and forecasting to support strategic decision-making and secure funding from VC investors.

Business Leadership Intern, Global Digital Media Team

2018 - 2018

• Conducted research on the pain points of Adult Smokers 21+ using mobile coupons, then orchestrated a creative briefing on how might the Marlboro brand reach 2.1 unique million coupon users by the end of 2019 by converting current click-to-mail (CTM) users to switch over to mobile coupons. • Enhanced knowledge base of Marlboro’s business and the Tobacco industry by conducting a competitive analysis and an external market assessment. • Managed promotional deliverables for Marlboro's email marketing creative assets (Total Monthly Newsletters and Mobile Coupon Equity emails) across all of Marlboro's brand families (red, gold, green, and black) daily. • Gathered and analyzed research (competitive, category, consumer, and innovation trends) for a prospective fast-casual client within 72 hours to enable senior leaders deliver a compelling new business pitch.