Jimena Nowack

I often tell people that Venture chose me…but if I had to decide now, I’d choose Venture over and over again.

I studied History of Art at Oxford, hoping to end up in auction houses or editorials, not really boardrooms and cap tables. But I’ve always been guided by curiosity around where talented people go. That path took me from private equity to early-stage investing, and eventually to IVP. Along the way, I discovered that this job—marrying IQ with EQ, analytics with instinct—is exactly where I’m meant to be. I get to partner with ambitious founders, ask the hard questions, and help build companies that move the world forward. It really is such a privilege to work in this ecosystem.

I’d admired IVP long before I joined; they were sharp, low-ego and backed global category leaders, including some of the most compelling companies I saw rising in Europe. The culture was what really stood out: a team with high conviction and high humility, where excellence is paired with warmth. In fact, one of our values is “care personally, challenge directly”, which I admire and endeavour to bring to every partnership with founders.

I’m drawn to founders with a maniacal obsession for their craft—those who are students of their trade and seem destined to solve a specific problem. I value individuals with exceptional clarity of thought, able to distill complex ideas into coherent narratives and seamlessly shift between strategic vision and tactical execution. The best founders usually have an earned insight, giving them unique empathy for the customers they serve.