It is with great excitement that we are announcing Laconia’s promotion of our Principal, Geri Kirilova, to Partner. Geri began her journey as an intern with Laconia in the spring of 2015 during her senior year at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she graduated summa cum laude. The investment triumvirate that has been created by Geri joining us has dramatically propelled Laconia’s activity within NYC’s startup ecosystem. This promotion reflects Geri’s pivotal contribution to our firm.
Our meeting Geri in 2015 resulted from a serendipitous introduction at an industry cocktail party. Her warmth, maturity, and intelligence were immediately apparent. We came to learn that she had proven VC dedication and experience through internships at Credo Ventures and LAUNCHub Ventures, which was impressive given her young age. Laconia was Geri’s third VC role, and after a stint at a Techstars accelerator program, she became Laconia’s first associate in January 2017.
Since coming on board, Geri has very much become a prominent face of Laconia. Often do we attend an industry event where we will introduce ourselves to someone and the response will be, “Laconia! You must work with Geri. She’s awesome!” With all humility, she is! Her active deal sourcing, high emotional intelligence in identifying star founders, and skill at detailed due diligence are remarkable. In addition to introducing us to Ocrolus and Elsen, Geri led our Unioncrate and Wethos investments. She has proven to be a true partner both to founders from day 1 as they navigate their business growth and to us as we build Laconia. She has also taken the reins of Laconia’s year-round paid internship program, building a pipeline of future investors and entrepreneurs. We are truly blessed to have her as our partner, peer and lifelong friend.
Please give Geri a big congratulations when you run into her. And if you don’t already know her, you should (she’s easy to spot - just look for her famous hair). Geri’s not only a talented investor, but she’s a kind, curious, and interesting person who lives life with great heart.