Liz Wessel

Liz Wessel is a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, currently serving as a Partner at First Round Capital, a well-known early-stage venture capital firm. She joined First Round in September 2023 after an impactful tenure at Y Combinator (YC), where she worked as a Visiting Partner, advising and supporting over 150 startups.123

Background and Career

Wessel co-founded WayUp, an early-career recruitment platform, in 2014 when she was just 23 years old. Under her leadership, WayUp grew to serve over 7 million users and raised more than $40 million in funding. The company successfully merged with Yello in 2021, marking a significant milestone in her entrepreneurial journey.134

Before her entrepreneurial ventures, Wessel was part of Google's Associate Product Marketing Manager program, where she contributed to various marketing initiatives, including campaigns in India. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Political Science, Math, and Japanese, and was involved in several entrepreneurial projects during her studies.234

Investment Philosophy

As an investor, Wessel emphasizes the importance of the founding team over the business idea itself, reflecting a philosophy she adopted during her time at YC. She seeks startups with strong market understanding and capable teams, especially in the current challenging funding environment.123 Her track record as an angel investor includes backing notable companies like Ro, Ramp, and Scale AI, showcasing her keen eye for potential high-growth ventures.124

Personal Life

Wessel is married and has a daughter. She is also known for her commitment to community service, often volunteering her time to tutor students.34

Through her role at First Round Capital, Wessel aims to leverage her extensive experience as a founder and investor to support the next generation of entrepreneurs, providing them with the guidance and resources they need to succeed.234