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Cack Wilhelm
Professional based in San Francisco
Cack Wilhelm is a General Partner at IVP, a prominent venture capital firm based in San Francisco. She was promoted to this position in February 2022, making her the second-ever female general partner in the firm's history, following Mary Jane Elmore's promotion in 1983.15
Background and Career
Wilhelm has a diverse professional background that includes experience in investment banking, enterprise sales, and venture capital. She began her career as a professional runner for Nike, competing at a high level before transitioning into finance. After working as an analyst at Montgomery & Co. and later at Allen & Co., she moved into enterprise sales at Oracle and Cloudera, where she developed a deep understanding of technology and customer relationships.145
In 2014, she entered the venture capital space by interning at Scale Venture Partners, which led to a full-time role there before joining IVP. Her investment focus is primarily on late-stage technology startups, particularly in data and cloud infrastructure.35
Investment Philosophy and Achievements
Wilhelm is known for her tenacity and competitive drive, traits she attributes to her athletic background. She emphasizes the importance of understanding product-market fit and actively engages with founders to help them grow their businesses. Notably, she has led significant investments in companies like Cribl, CircleCI, and Perplexity AI, showcasing her ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups.145
In recognition of her contributions to the venture capital industry, Wilhelm was named to Fortune's 40 Under 40 list in 2022, highlighting her impact as a leading investor in technology.56
Education
Wilhelm holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in History from Princeton University, where she was also an accomplished athlete, receiving the Von Kienbusch Senior Athlete of the Year Award in 2006.245
Personal Life
Outside of her professional endeavors, Wilhelm enjoys outdoor activities such as running and skiing, and she is a mother to two daughters.24
