Mariah Lichtenstern

Mariah "Roman" Lichtenstern is a seasoned entrepreneur and investment professional with extensive experience in fostering diverse, impactful ventures. As the Founding Partner and Managing Director at DiverseCity Ventures since June 2017, Lichtenstern accelerates technology-enabled companies with positive social, economic, and environmental impacts. In addition to this role, Lichtenstern serves as a Convergence Accelerator Coach for the National Science Foundation, focusing on solving societal challenges through multidisciplinary research. Other notable positions include AI Ethics Advisor at Hayden AI, Board Member at FourthWave.io, and public speaker on topics such as entrepreneurship and diversity. Lichtenstern's commitment to nurturing female-led companies began as a Managing Director at Founder Institute and continues through roles at UCLA Ventures and All Raise. An accomplished founder, Lichtenstern's prior work includes establishing CINESHARES, a platform for filmmakers, and engaging as a Kauffman Fellow finalist. Lichtenstern holds a B.A. in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MS in Entertainment Business.