Jaclyn Hester

Jaclyn is passionate about helping founders and VCs succeed.

Jaclyn enjoys all things venture. She works closely with early-stage venture capital fund managers and startup founders as they launch and scale their businesses.

Jaclyn joined Foundry in 2016 and is active across our portfolio of startup companies and venture funds. She helped launch our partner fund strategy and works closely with our partner fund managers, while also leading new fund investments. She has built an extensive network of early-stage venture capital investors across North America and loves advising emerging managers on fundraising, strategy, and firm-building. Jaclyn also spends time on direct investments, working with existing portfolio companies and leading new investments, typically alongside our partner funds.

Prior to joining Foundry, Jaclyn practiced corporate law at Perkins Coie LLP and Baker & Hostetler LLP. As an attorney, she advised startups and private equity firms as well as buyers and sellers in M&A transactions. She also worked closely with her husband and his family on their SaaS startup, FareHarbor (acq’d by Booking.com), from the earliest stages through acquisition.

Jaclyn earned a JD/MBA from University of Colorado, Boulder, and a BBA from Emory University. During graduate school, she worked with founders and other entrepreneurial leaders in her role as Executive Director of Startup Colorado. Jaclyn lives in Boulder with her husband and their two children (one daughter, one black lab). With Red Rocks in the summer and skiing in the winter, this East Coast native is thrilled to call Colorado home.