A little in shock, and a lot appreciative. Tonight, with folks I admire a lot - @ Terry Mcguire & Geoff Yang, we'll be recognized as "venture vanguards". Feeling gratitude, esp for the difference individuals can make on others. To the partners at Kleiner Perkins, and John Doerr who gave me a job many moons ago. To friends who encouraged me to take the job, I almost didn't - I was worried about surviving in what seemed like a sharky biz with so few women and minorities. And to folks who made and effort to include me and others, and still do - as there are still too few women and minorities in our business. To those who taught me, shared deal flow, helped with diligence and winning opportunities; and to those who helped Cowboy Ventures get off the ground. To the teams who give us the privilege of being on their pit crews and their cap tables. To family & friends who have helped along the way (including in raising our family) and still help all the time. To team 🤠 and my All Raise squad mates. So many people on my mind. Hope you know how appreciated you are. Feeling v. grateful, and motivated - to back more amazing tech startup founders, and to pay these many gifts forward 🙏 🙏 🙏
Join us in congratulating our 2024 #VC award winners. Tonight, we celebrate the startup ecosystem and the well-deserved honorees making a critical impact on our country’s economy and innovation: 🌟 Venture Vanguard Class – Aileen Lee of Cowboy Ventures, Geoff Yang of Redpoint Ventures, and Terry McGuire of Polaris Partners. 🌟Rising Star Award – James Barlia of Revolution, Arpit Mittal of Threshold Ventures, Susan Moring of Cortado Ventures, Chelcie Taylor of Notable Capital, and Rita Costa Waite of In-Q-Tel (IQT). 🌟 DEI Impact Award – First Close Partners 🌟 Startup Champion Award - Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) 🌟 Startup Innovator Award – Maybell Quantum Read more: https://lnkd.in/eU-Z4VgE
Way to go Aileen! Immensely proud of you. Congratulations 🎉
Congratulations Aileen Lee!
2 decades in on the Aileen squad & orbit. Never prouder.
It is often said- but in this case really true - no one deserves it more than you
So proud of you and your work.You have had an amazing impact, in your industry, and beyond.
This is so well deserved Aileen Lee . You are a vanguard for so many of us. And you are always giving your time and opening doors — pulling people up and enabling opportunities that we wouldn’t have had access to otherwise
🎉 Congratulations Aileen Lee! Very well deserved! 👏🏽
Aileen, you are now, and always have been, a rockstar. Congratulations.
Well recognized for your accomplishments, Aileen, though perhaps premature given the impact I know you'll have on our industry in the decade ahead. Of your many accomplishments, your cowboy dance as you received the award may be one of my favorites.
SaaStr Annual 2024 is Sept 10-12 in SF Bay!! See You There!!
2moBoom!!