At a 2015 World Cup match in Vancouver, Kara searched nine stores for her daughters’ jerseys and found none. That spark of “joyful irritation” became a movement to build teams, build community, and build an industry. In this episode, Kara joins Ilana to share how that moment ignited Angel City FC, how she, along with her partners, managed to create one of the most valuable women’s soccer teams in the world, and why she embraces rejection as a growth strategy. She breaks down the tension between patience and urgency, the power of finding joy in pursuing one’s passions, and how to choose partners who amplify your mission.

Kara Nortman is the co-founder of Angel City FC and managing partner of Monarch Collective, a $250M investment platform driving the growth of women’s sports. A former investor at Upfront Ventures and operator at IAC, Kara brings decades of experience turning bold ideas into lasting movements.

In this episode, Ilana and Kara will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(02:03) Realizing the Market Gap in Women’s Sports

(04:16) Turning Inspiration into Action

(06:44) Finding Joy Through Volunteering and Community

(11:54) The Birth of Angel City FC

(17:23) Turning Rejection into Fuel

(30:48) Breaking into the World of Venture Capital

(31:42) Game-Changing Mentorship and Early Career Lessons

(33:47) Discovering a Passion for Tech at Battery Ventures

(44:19) Building Angel City and Redefining the Playbook

(50:04) Launching Monarch and Scaling the Movement

Kara Nortman is an investor, founder, and sports operator focused on advancing the women’s sports economy. As a co-founder of the professional women's soccer team, Angel City FC, she pioneered a community-first 10% sponsorship model that drove significant commercial success. Kara co-leads Monarch Collective, investing in women’s sports teams and related businesses across the U.S. and Europe. Previously, she was a managing partner at Upfront Ventures and an executive at IAC, where she helped incubate Tinder through Hatch Labs.

Connect with Kara:

Kara’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karanortman

Resources Mentioned:

Monarch Collective: https://monarchcoll.com

Angel City FC: https://angelcity.com

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Betting $250M on Women’s Sports: How Rejection Became Kara Nortman’s Superpower | E130