Yoko Okano

Yoko Okano is a prominent venture capitalist and the Founding Partner at First Row Partners, a venture capital firm based in the Pacific Northwest that specializes in investing in pre-seed startups. Established in 2019 alongside Minda Brusse, First Row Partners has focused on over 20 investments primarily in technology sectors like data and software.13

Background and Career

Before co-founding First Row Partners, Yoko was an active angel investor, holding leadership roles in organizations such as Grubstakes and the Seattle Angel Conference. She began her career at Google, where she worked on projects like Google Books and the launch of ebooks on Google Play. This experience at a large tech company provided her with insights into operational scalability, which she later applied in product-related roles at various startups.14

Investment Philosophy

Yoko is particularly interested in product-led growth and enhancing user experiences by reducing their "time to delight." She is committed to fostering an inclusive ecosystem for founders and investors, aiming to bridge the gap between them through education and strategic discussions about fundraising.12

Educational Background

Yoko holds a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, which she completed in 1995. She also serves as an Affiliate Instructor of Entrepreneurship at the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.4

Community Engagement

In addition to her investment activities, Yoko is involved with organizations like Sustain Music, which connects diverse communities through music. She has also been recognized as an Investor Champion by the Female Founders Alliance in 2019.45

Yoko's multifaceted career reflects her dedication to nurturing innovation and supporting emerging technologies that enhance human expression and creativity.