Nathaniel Zola

Nathaniel "Natty" Zola is a prominent figure in the startup and venture capital ecosystem, particularly in Boulder, Colorado. He has held several key roles that have shaped his career and expertise:

Professional Experience

Techstars Boulder Accelerator: Natty served as the Managing Director for the Techstars Boulder Accelerator, where he helped early-stage tech companies succeed.1 In this role, he led six Techstars Boulder accelerator programs.2

Matchstick Ventures: He is currently a Partner at Matchstick Ventures, where he continues to invest in and support early-stage startups.12

Entrepreneurial Background

Natty's entrepreneurial journey began when he co-founded Everlater.com, a travel blogging platform and CRM system for tour operators. The company participated in Techstars in 2009 and was later acquired by AOL in 2012.1

Corporate Experience

Before his entrepreneurial venture, Natty worked at MapQuest as the Head of Consumer Products, where he contributed to the company's return to profitability and growth.1 He also graduated from GE's Financial Management Program, where he was a top performer.2

Education and Early Career

Natty graduated from the University of Maryland with an honors degree in finance. During his college years, he competed in cross country and track and field, earning nine letters.2 He also worked with best-selling author Jim Collins on two books: "Great by Choice" and "How the Mighty Fall".12

Investment and Mentorship

Throughout his career, Natty has invested in over 100 companies and has worked directly with more than 200 founders as an investor, mentor, and friend.2

Personal

Natty is from Boulder, Colorado, and comes from a family of teachers and social workers. He is married and has young children. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing.2

Natty Zola's LinkedIn username is nathanielzola, as mentioned in the query.3