As a Partner and Lead Product Manager at Actuate Ventures, I bridge investment strategy with hands-on product leadership across our portfolio companies. With my background as a startup founder, I understand the unique pressures and rapid decision cycles that define early-stage ventures, where survival can be measured in hours instead of quarters. My approach balances strategic vision with operational execution, ensuring portfolio companies deliver high-impact products, meet critical milestones, and maximize investor confidence.
Problem
Startups within Actuate's portfolio face extreme constraints: limited resources, aggressive timelines, and existential risk. Unlike established firms, these teams must iterate and ship rapidly, sometimes pivoting within days or hours to avoid failure. Actuate's value-add is not just capital, but hands-on leadership to accelerate product delivery, optimize team performance, and create investor-ready narratives.
Solution
As Product Management Lead, I directed teams of designers and developers for multiple portfolio companies, setting product vision, roadmaps, and execution plans. As an Investment Partner, I sourced and led investments, applying product and technical diligence to identify and nurture high-potential startups. Drawing on my founder experience, I empathized with and guided teams through high-stakes pivots, crisis management, and market launches. I managed cross-functional teams to deliver apps, decks, and shippable code, ensuring products reached customers and investors on time.
Case Study: Drone Inspection Platform for Aircraft and Spacecraft
One standout portfolio company developed a drone-based inspection solution for aircraft and spacecraft, dramatically reducing turnaround times for safety checks and maintenance. By automating inspections, airlines and space operators could return vehicles to service faster, improving operational efficiency and safety.
Contribution
- Managed a multidisciplinary team of designers and developers, establishing clear milestones and agile workflows
- Defined MVP scope and prioritized features based on customer feedback and regulatory requirements
- Ensured rapid iteration cycles, with shippable code and customer demos delivered on a weekly basis
- Navigated the team through resource crunches and technical blockers, maintaining morale and momentum during critical phases
- Handled initial user research and customer discover for many companies, leading to faster product market fit
- Oversaw successful deployment to airline and aerospace clients, enabling measurable reductions in inspection times and downtime
Impact
- Reduced aircraft inspection turnaround from days to hours
- Enabled airlines and space operators to return vehicles to service faster, directly impacting revenue and safety
- Maintained team focus and delivery under intense startup pressure
Additional Product: AI-Powered VC Risk Assessment Tool
Another portfolio company built an AI-driven tool for venture capital risk assessment, automating due diligence and portfolio analysis.
Contribution
- Worked with founders to define the tool's scope, focusing on features that would generate immediate value for VC clients
- Led the team in building a platform that reduced months of manual analysis to under an hour
- Helped core staff focus on high-value decisions, increasing confidence in investment bets and freeing up partner time
Approach and Learnings
- My founder background enabled me to anticipate challenges and provide actionable guidance, from product pivots to investor communications
- Instituted agile, milestone-driven processes, critical for startups where every hour counts
- Fostered collaboration between design, engineering, and business teams, ensuring alignment and accountability
- Ensured every product, pitch deck, and demo was crafted for maximum impact with customers and investors
Conclusion
At Actuate Ventures, I combine investment leadership with hands-on product management to help startups survive and thrive. My approach rooted in startup empathy, operational discipline, and strategic vision has enabled portfolio companies to ship products, secure customers, and unlock value under the most demanding conditions.