Sapphire Spouse Annalise Dragic
Sapphire
Whilst girls are nonetheless underrepresented in management roles in project capital corporations, there are indicators of growth. Ultimate December, on the age of simply 29, Annalise Dragic used to be made a Spouse at Sapphire Ventures, making her perhaps the youngest feminine VC Spouse in Europe.
Sapphire has greater than $8.8 billion in belongings below control and places of work in London, Austin, Palo Alto and San Francisco. In early 2020 Dragic used to be employed to lend a hand construct out the company’s Eu presence. Primarily based out of London, she invests in Collection B thru pre-IPO B2B corporations, with a focal point on fintech and B2B SaaS.
During her occupation Dragic, she has been a passionate recommend for purchasing extra girls into VC and pushing price range to put money into extra feminine and numerous founders. Right here she stocks the secrets and techniques of her luck.
Alison Coleman: What had been your earliest occupation ambitions?
Annalise Dragic: “My first ambition used to be to be a diplomat! From a tender age, I used to be interested in a occupation that might permit me to be a part of a world neighborhood and paintings towards bettering the lives of others. I used to be born in London and went directly to reside in 4 different international locations throughout 3 continents, which piqued my pastime in numerous cultures and global family members. I studied science, generation and global affairs at Georgetown College, and changed into intrigued by way of occupation alternatives in finance as a result of they gave me the power to mix my analytical and important pondering abilities with studying about applied sciences that would trade lives around the globe.
Coleman: What piqued your pastime on the earth of VC?
Dragic: I began my occupation with a job in funding banking, which used to be a superb opportunity to be told so much, in no time, particularly for somebody who hadn’t studied finance. I then joined LinkedIn in a technique and analytics function, running throughout their San Francisco, London, and Dublin places of work. Those early occupation alternatives fueled my pastime in how tech companies are valued and what prerequisites create luck for scaling. After LinkedIn, I finished an MBA at Stanford College and determined to pursue a occupation in project capital.
Coleman: You began making an investment within the Eu ecosystem in 2017 with Atomico, how simple used to be it to transition to project capital?
Dragic: Challenge capital is a difficult business to damage into. Whilst I nonetheless had a lot to be told, I discovered that during some ways, project making an investment used to be very similar to the former paintings I had completed whilst a part of the company building crew at LinkedIn. For any individual who is of course curious, it’s probably the most thrilling skilled setting to immerse your self in.
Coleman: What particular demanding situations have you ever confronted as a girl in finance, and the way have you ever triumph over them?
Dragic: As a girl in finance, there are lots of occasions if you end up the one one within the room. That’s by no means simple. Issues are getting higher however I’d say running at a company that helps girls, and looking for skilled friends who provide the similar reinforce, is very important. Sapphire is a industry that takes this significantly. In our London place of work, as an example, now we have gender parity throughout our funding crew, and feminine companions throughout all 3 of our funding methods; Sapphire Ventures, Sapphire Companions and Sapphire Recreation. Our COO, CFO and CMO also are girls.
Coleman: How essential is it to have just right mentors and function fashions on this business?
Dragic: Mentorship has made a significant distinction in my occupation. In case you’re taking a look to damage into the arena of VC or startups, discover a mentor who can reinforce you and show you how to be your original self. I’m now actively searching for to mentor different girls who’re beginning their careers.
Coleman: As a VC, are you seeing sure indicators for ladies within the startup and tech sectors?
Dragic: I’m seeing growth on the subject of making variety, and specifically gender variety, however, at this time, handiest 12% of Companions at Eu VCs are girls and that’s some distance from just right sufficient. We’re transferring in the appropriate path, however the ecosystem nonetheless has a large number of paintings to do.
Coleman: What do you experience maximum about your function at Sapphire?
Dragic: After I joined Sapphire again in 2020 to lend a hand release our London place of work, there have been simply two folks in Europe. Setting up a brand new place of work for this sort of prestigious company has been a perfect enjoy. I’m extremely proud that during just a brief duration now we have grown the place of work to an eight-person crew and made a file selection of investments remaining 12 months.
I additionally experience partnering with mission-driven marketers who’re motivated by way of bettering the arena round them. It’s inspiring to enclose your self with that power each day, and it’s superb to be a part of a crew that’s dedicated to backing the innovation that’s lately popping out of Europe.
Coleman: What are your most sensible 3 guidelines for founders searching for investment?
Dragic: My most sensible tip is to make the effort to plan for a fundraise. It is very important search out traders that will likely be a just right fit to your corporate’s operational and monetary wishes.
It’s also essential to craft a pitch and get ready metrics suitable on your corporate’s degree of enlargement. Founders will have to know the way potential traders have helped boost up different companies. This can be lend a hand on hiring at scale, reinforce with a world growth, or insights on how you can diversify your board. Search for traders who’ve the enjoy and networks that can assist you understand your imaginative and prescient. In the end, be assured and keep made up our minds; you’ll get there!
