Nichole Wischoff is a rising star in the world of venture capital, with her solo firm Wischoff Ventures having recently closed a second fund of $20 million. Wischoff’s investment focus is on pre-seed and seed-stage startups, with a particular interest in companies that apply AI/ML or embedded fintech components to legacy industries. Prior to launching her own fund, Wischoff gained experience as an early employee at several startups, including Blend Labs and One Finance.
Wischoff’s existing portfolio includes companies such as Coast Pay, Loop, Nuvo, Trustlayer, and Vesta – a diverse group that reflects her wide-ranging interests and expertise in a variety of industries. In addition to focusing on fintech, Wischoff’s new fund will also explore other areas such as industrial automation and engineering-focused startups.
The LPs backing Wischoff’s second fund include prominent names like Peter Thiel, Lee Fixel, Jerry Yang, Bain Capital, Byers Capital, Cendana Capital, and others. However, as Wischoff notes, the composition of her investors has also evolved over time, with family offices now accounting for more than half of her fund commitments. Despite this shift, she says it took her seven months to raise the new fund – longer than what she experienced with her first fund due to the success of her first fund, Wischoff worked hard to increase the diversity and representation of women in tech.
Looking forward, Wischoff plans to continue building strong portfolios by backing promising companies with a focus on early-stage startups that are making a positive impact in their industries. She is also dedicated to helping more women gain experience in venture capital, and hopes to inspire more women to pursue careers in this growing field. With her passion and expertise, it is clear that Wischoff will continue to be a driving force in the world of VC for many years to come.
The Madam.VC editorial team is made up of professionals in venture capital and private equity, who are passionate about technology and the visions of founders who change the world around us. We bring these themes together to provide news, analysis, events and resources in order to close the funding gap for women.