Cindy Padnos

Cindy Padnos is founder and managing partner of Illuminate Ventures, an early stage Micro VC firm focused on Enterprise cloud and mobile software investments. Current firm investments include BrightEdge, CafeX, ChannelEyes, Coupang, Hoopla, Influitive, Opsmatic, Peerlyst, Sense Platform, Xactly and Yozio. Cindy has deployed over $100 million in venture funding to help dozens of start-ups reach successful outcomes including prior portfolio companies Red Aril (acq. Hearst Corporation) and WildPockets (acq. Autodesk). A prior serial entrepreneurs, Cindy has been named one of the Most Influential Women in Technology (Fast Company) and one of the Most Influential Women in Silicon Valley (New York Times). Cindy’s high tech career includes successful stints as a management consultant (Booz), VP of Marketing (Scopus, IPO) and founder/CEO (Vivant, acq. EVLV/ORCL). Cindy is on the Business Board of Advisors for Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business where she received her MBA/MSIA and is a graduate of the University of Michigan where she recently offered the College of Engineering commencement address.