Deena Shakir

Deena Shakir is a prominent venture capitalist and currently serves as a General Partner at Lux Capital, where she focuses on investments in transformative technologies, particularly in women's health, digital health infrastructure, health equity, foodtech, and fintech. Her investment strategy emphasizes supporting underdog entrepreneurs and companies that aim to improve health outcomes and equity in healthcare access.

Career Background

Before joining Lux Capital in 2019, Shakir was a Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), where she led product partnerships at Google, specifically in health, AI, and machine learning. She also directed social impact investments at Google.org and served as a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Department of State under Secretary Hillary Clinton, contributing to the launch of President Obama's first Global Entrepreneurship Summit in 2010.

Shakir has an extensive academic background, holding a joint BA in Social Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University and a Master's degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is also a lecturer in management at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Recognition and Impact

Shakir has received numerous accolades for her work in venture capital and healthcare. She was named one of the "Top 30 Under 40 in Healthcare" by Business Insider and recognized as a "Top Senior Woman to Watch in Venture Capital" by The Wall Street Journal. Her commitment to women's health was further underscored by her personal experience with postpartum preeclampsia, which has influenced her investment focus in this area.136

Board Memberships and Contributions

In addition to her role at Lux Capital, Shakir serves on the boards of several healthcare companies, including Maven Clinic and Alife Health, and is a board member of the National Venture Capital Association. She is also involved with various leadership and fellowship programs, including Kauffman Fellows and the Council on Foreign Relations.245

Her diverse background and commitment to social impact reflect her belief in the potential of innovative ventures to transform lives and improve healthcare access for all.