DTL Women's Series: Women in VC at Rice University
Determined to Lead (DTL) Women's Series: Women in VC.
This time, instead of lunch, join us for afternoon tea!
Together with Rice University Undergraduate Venture Club
We will host a panel discussion with the most prominent Women in VC in Houston.
Agenda
4:00 - 4: 30 - Refreshments and Mingling
4: 30 - Intro and Panel
Panelists
Sandy Guitar - Weathergage Capital
Gretell Otano - GREJU Venture
Veronica Breckenridge - First Bight Ventures
Moderator
Mitra Miller - Mill River Advisors, LLC
5:15 Open for Q&A
5:30 Networking
About the Panelists
Sandy Guitar - Co-Founder, General Partner & Managing Director
Sandy is a Co-Founder, General Partner and Managing Director of Weathergage Capital, a venture capital and growth equity fund of funds managing approximately $1.2 billion in venture capital partnership investments. Weathergage has longstanding relationships with venture capital funds that we believe are resilient, innovative trendsetters with strong track records and that we believe can benefit the institutional investor. Sandy was previously a General Partner and Managing Director at HX Venture Fund, a venture capital fund of funds focused on producing superior returns for its Limited Partners and on developing the startup ecosystem in Houston, TX.
Sandy is a member of the Board of Regents at the University of the South, Sewanee, and Chairman of Sewanee’s investment committee. Sandy is also an Advisory Board member of Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, or Lilie. Sandy has an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern and a B.A. cum laude from the University of the South, with her pre-college education in London. Following her degree, she was awarded a Watson Fellowship, traveling to and studying business management styles in Japan, India and Australia.
Gretell Otano - Co-Founder & Chief Growth Strategist
Driving business growth and innovation for nearly 20 years, Gretell Ortano is a seasoned strategic leader passionate about empowering organizations to reach their full potential. With a diverse industry background spanning energy, technology, and private equity, Gretell consistently delivers results-driven solutions.
Gretell's expertise lies in spearheading innovative strategies to drive revenue and market success. She is a seasoned leader who has successfully led high-performance teams to exceed targets and cultivate lasting client relationships. Her entrepreneurial mindset enables her to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities.
Gretell is the Co-Founder of GREJU Venture Advisors and has also served as Chief Growth Officer and Board Director at Humango Training. Her expertise includes Strategic Growth and Innovation, Leadership and Team Development, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Mentorship, as well as Chemical and Environmental Engineering. As a proud member of HAN, Gretell is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of business leaders through mentorship and advisory roles. She is excited to connect with fellow innovators and explore opportunities to create value and drive positive change in today's dynamic business landscape.
Veronica Breckenridge - Founder & Managing Partner First Bight Ventures
With over 30 years of experience in institutional investing and operations, Veronica has made her mark in leading companies like Motorola, Apple, and Tesla. Her background in Applied Mathematics from Yale University and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from UC Berkeley laid the foundation for her illustrious career.
Veronica developed the first commercial prototype of "Siri" at Motorola, scaled Apple's Greater China Education and Enterprise business by 50x in 7 years, and built Tesla's operations in China, delivering thousands of vehicles within 13 months. She also deployed over $200M in venture capital, launching a $100M seed fund in Silicon Valley, and led investments in over 300 early-stage tech companies, yielding 40+ unicorns and 10+ SPAC/IPOs.
In 2021, Veronica founded First Bight Ventures, the first venture firm focused on early-stage industrial biomanufacturing companies. Based in Houston, the firm leverages the city's unique advantages in talent, logistics, and business-friendly regulations to accelerate the industry's growth.
Fatimah Bello - Founder & Managing Director of SWD Futures
Fatimah Bello is a visionary leader driving innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. As the Founder and Managing Director of SWD Futures, she spearheads pioneering strategies for a sustainable future.
With over 200 years of collective team experience, SWD Futures excels in structuring energy transition investments, driving emerging business development, and enabling market expansion. Under Fatimah's leadership, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of industries' evolution, supporting clients in realizing plausible futures.
Fatimah's expertise in foresight and new business development has made SWD Futures a trusted partner for companies seeking to navigate the complexities of the energy transition. Her focus on sustainability, innovation, and market expansion has enabled SWD Futures to drive growth and success for its clients.
Through her work, Fatimah is shaping the future of the energy sector and empowering companies to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Moderator
Mitra Miller - VP & President-Elect, Houston Angel Network
Mitra Miller is an experienced venture investor who has been backing startups in disruptive technology, cleantech, new materials, and life sciences for over 20 years. She began her career as a founding member of one of the nation’s first venture development and private investment funds, and she honed her entrepreneurial and operational skills in multiple executive and advisory roles. A dynamic speaker and published author, she has mentored hundreds of founders and investors, and she frequently shares her insights on capital formation, early-stage funding and growth, and investing at conferences and on podcasts. She is the VP & President-Elect of the Houston Angel Network, one of the largest and most active angel groups in the US; Managing Partner of Mill River Capital, an early-stage investor and syndicator; and a partner in multiple venture funds.
A leader in the Texas innovation ecosystem, Mitra has presented at SXSW, the Texas Venture Forum, Houston Exponential, UT Innovation, UH Technology Bridge, Texas A&M McFerrin Center, The Ion, The Cannon, Greentown Labs, Rice Business Plan Competition, Rice Clean Energy Accelerator, the Houston Family Office Conference, and the Greater Houston Partnership’s Technology and Innovation. Her avocation is to empower under-resourced youth by engaging them with the startup community through her innovative non-profit, Eagle Investors, and she serves as a Trustee for Goodwill Houston, a board member for The Center for Houston’s Future, and a member of the Houston Vision 2050 Steering Committee.
Parking Details
More details coming soon.