We’re thrilled to announce that Elena Pavel has been promoted to Partner and CFO.
Elena joined the firm in December 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, and has been “all in” since then. She has been, and continues to be, an integral part of the team, overseeing all financial aspects of the company, ensuring stable firm operations, and driving sustained, long-term growth.
“Elena has been leading our operations and finance with great leadership from Day one. She quickly became a core part of the team building the firm forward. The first time I met Elena, I was immediately impressed by her confidence and maturity, she is definitely one hire that I am really proud of!” - Sophie Forest
As a VC firm, our core business is investing in early-stage companies, but without a CFO who brings both operational expertise and strategic financial management, that cannot happen - and this is exactly what she brings to the table. She has operationalized and automated key aspects of our investment and fund management business and is becoming a key contributor in our portfolio with her rare talent of combining finance and accounting attention to details with start-up needs for innovation and speed.
“It is a challenge to find a CFO who can adapt to the realities of early stage companies without any compromise to the rigour needed for stellar finance and reporting operations. Elena definitively has that gift. Having a great CFO means you can sleep better at night, the firm is definitively more rested since she joined!” - Sophie Forest
Over the past few years, Elena’s leadership had been recognized for its authenticity, built not only on her ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders and foster trust but also on her consistent execution. While Elena brings a warm and convivial presence in the office, she does not shy away from telling it how it is and is a tough negotiator - as some team members jokingly put it "everyone's a little bit scared of Elena". This is exactly the kind of demeanor of a true CFO.
With Elena now in the Partnership, we’re more confident than ever in our ability to create meaningful, long-term value for both our portfolio and our investors and know that she will continue to play a key role in shaping the future of the firm.
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