Rachel Appel

Rachel (Star) Appel is a seasoned professional in the venture capital and technology sectors, currently working in a growth role at Column since 2023. From 2020 to 2023, Rachel served as Principal at Unusual Ventures, focusing on investments in early-stage Enterprise Software and Consumer Technology startups. Prior experience includes positions as Senior Associate at Shasta Ventures and Associate at Nordstrom, where Rachel contributed to corporate strategy. Earlier roles include Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company and Design & Development at SparkTruck, an innovative educational initiative recognized with a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award in 2013. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing & Design Engineering from Northwestern University, along with a visiting student tenure at the Rhode Island School of Design, and completed high school at Menlo School.