Professional Summary
Professional Overview
Amanda Schutzbank is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Willow Growth Partners, a venture capital firm based in Los Angeles, California. She brings over a decade of experience in early-stage investing, operational leadership, and mentorship to her current role. Schutzbank's expertise spans the technology and consumer sectors, with a focus on identifying and supporting innovative startups.
Experience Summary
Current Role
As the Co-Founder and General Partner at Willow Growth Partners, Schutzbank is responsible for leading the firm's investment strategy, deal sourcing, and portfolio management. She works closely with her co-founder to evaluate investment opportunities, provide strategic guidance to portfolio companies, and drive the overall growth and success of the firm. Under Schutzbank's leadership, Willow Growth Partners has established itself as a prominent early-stage investor, supporting numerous promising startups across various industries.
Career Progression
Prior to co-founding Willow Growth Partners, Schutzbank held several influential roles in the venture capital and technology sectors. She served as a Mentor at Techstars, where she provided strategic advice and mentorship to early-stage startups. Schutzbank then transitioned to Investor at Amplify.LA, where she evaluated and invested in emerging technology companies. Before that, she served as Vice President at Primary Venture Partners, where she played a key role in the firm's investment and portfolio management activities.
Schutzbank also has experience in operational leadership, having served as the VP of Marketing at Karma Mobility, Inc., a technology company focused on mobile connectivity solutions. Earlier in her career, she held roles in investment banking at Merrill Lynch and the securities division at Goldman Sachs, where she gained valuable experience in financial analysis and deal-making.
Academic Background
Schutzbank holds a degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where she specialized in finance and entrepreneurship.
Areas of Expertise
Schutzbank's areas of expertise include early-stage investing, startup operations, go-to-market strategy, marketing, and business development. She has a deep understanding of the technology and consumer sectors, and a proven track record of identifying and supporting high-potential startups.
Professional Impact
Throughout her career, Schutzbank has made significant contributions to the venture capital and startup ecosystems. As a Mentor at Techstars, she helped shape the growth and development of numerous early-stage companies. Her work as an Investor at Amplify.LA and Vice President at Primary Venture Partners further solidified her reputation as a savvy and strategic early-stage investor.
At Willow Growth Partners, Schutzbank has played a pivotal role in the firm's success, leveraging her expertise and network to source and evaluate promising investment opportunities. Under her leadership, the firm has built a diverse portfolio of innovative startups, many of which have achieved significant milestones and growth.
Conclusion
With her extensive experience, deep industry expertise, and proven track record of success, Amanda Schutzbank is a respected and influential figure in the venture capital and startup communities. As the Co-Founder and General Partner at Willow Growth Partners, she is poised to continue driving the growth and success of early-stage companies, creating value for her firm's investors and the broader technology ecosystem.