Marie Rocha

Marie Rocha is a prominent figure in the venture capital and entrepreneurial space, with a significant role as an Advisory Council Member at Connecticut Public. She is the founder of Realist Ventures, a Connecticut-based venture fund that focuses on funding early-stage biotech and software startups. Marie has over 20 years of experience in business and technology, having started her career as a software engineer before transitioning into entrepreneurship. She has co-founded several ventures, including IMAK Software, and is actively involved in supporting women entrepreneurs through initiatives like HAYVN Hatch/Launch.123

In addition to her role at Connecticut Public, Marie serves on various boards, including CTNext LLC, where she has been a board member since 2022, and VEST, where she has been an advisory board member since 2020.12 Her work extends beyond her ventures, as she is committed to mentoring underrepresented founders and serving on boards that support entrepreneurs and children.23