E3: How Ashley Mayer Transitioned from Crafting the Narratives for Box, Glossier, and Social Capital to Building Her Own Venture Fund: Coalition Operators

In this episode, we share a slice with Ashley Mayer, the Founder of Coalition Operators - a $12.5 million early-stage fund that's shaking things up in the pre-seed to Series A space. 

Ashley is a communications whiz who's worked with some of the hottest names in tech - Box, Social Capital, Glossier - who then decided to take her vast network and dive headfirst into the world of venture capital. 

Now, here's where it gets interesting - Ashley didn't do this alone. She teamed up with three other super female operators  ((Jaclyn Nelson, Toyin Ajayi, and Lindsay Ullman) to create something truly unique. Like most, transitioning from the structured world of corporate communications to the Wild West of fund management wasn't all smooth sailing for Ashley. She openly shares the struggles of dealing with the ambiguity of building a fund and the psychological challenges that come with it. 

Their big idea? Connect talented operators with early-stage startups that desperately need their expertise. It's like playing matchmaker, but instead of love, you're matching experience with potential. This is where heavy hitters like Thrive Capital and General Catalyst saw the potential and came in as the anchor LPs. 

Ashley’s approach to investing is quite unique. With her experience as an operator for some of the brightest talent, she’s laser-focused on the founders, and how they run the show inside and out. Ashley and her team at Coalition want to help founders build strategic cap tables that act as their strongest network. It's not just about the money; it's about bringing in investors who can provide real, tangible value. 

Throughout this interview, we couldn't help but feel inspired. Here's someone who's taken her years of operating experience and is using it to reshape how we think about early-stage investing. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best innovations come from outsiders who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.

So, what do you think? Is Ashley onto something with Coalition Operators? Are we seeing the future of early-stage investing unfold before our eyes? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

P.S. If you want to connect with Ashley (and trust us, you do), you can reach her at ashley@coalitionoperators.com or find her on LinkedIn. Who knows, you might just be the next founder or operator she's looking for! 

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