Nicole Quinn

Managing Partner and Co-Founder @ Connect Ventures and Venture Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners

📍 San Francisco, California, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 16 investments📅 12 years investing🗓 Last invested May 2023𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United States
16
Total investments
11
Early stage
2
Mid stage
2
Late stage
12y
Years active

Portfolio

15 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
May 2023
the operating system for the content economy
Board Member
Dec 2020
Real is a team of innovators, clinicians, and technologists on a mission to make caring for our mental health a priority. Were redesigning mental health care through a digital platform and in-person experiences, integrating empathy, design, and progressive care to build the most elevated end-to-end product, while also improving the quality of care itself. We’re not simply “normalizing” mental health care; we’re celebrating it. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR JOB SEEKERS -- PLEASE READ Unauthorized individuals claiming to be Real employees are extending false employment offers to steal money and personal information from job seekers. They are using legitimate websites and social media platforms and may use an unauthorized Real logo and employee name. Do not engage if you believe communication is fraudulent. Real employees communicate using email addresses that end with **@join-real.com.** **Real will never request money or credit card information or ask for personal details like address, social security number, bank information, or tax documents early in the interview process.** If you suspect you’ve encountered an instance of recruitment fraud: - To report a suspicious email or job ad, hi@join-real.com and include as much detail as possible (any documentation will assist us). - Report the email address as “Phishing” through your email provider. This will help get the email account shut down. - If you believe you have been a victim of online recruitment fraud, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at [ic3.gov](https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx) Real takes this very seriously and we hope by sharing this information we can prevent potential jobseekers from interacting with these scams.
Board Member
Jun 2020
Lunchclub is an AI superconnector that makes introductions for 1:1 video meetings. We are backed by Lightspeed, Coatue, and a16z. Our mission is to power a future of work where making new connections is easy, meaningful, and fun. Featured in CNBC, WSJ, Financial Times, and other press. Were hiring: https://jobs.lever.co/lunchclub/.
Board Observer
Mar 2019
Calm is a leading mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Our flagship consumer app—ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across nearly 190 countries—helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Since our launch, we’ve expanded our offerings with Calm Sleep, an app providing deeper, personalized sleep support, and Calm Health, an evidence-based digital solution offered through employers, health plans, and providers to expand access, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 26 million covered lives through Calm Health. Recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter, Calm was co-founded by Alex Tew (Million Dollar Homepage) and Michael Acton Smith (Mind Candy, Moshi Monsters, Firebox).
Board Member
Sep 2018
Cameo’s mission is to create the most personalized and authentic fan experiences on earth! Cameo is celebrating another busy and exciting year as the world’s leading fan engagement platform having enabled over 27,000 hours of personalized connections across the globe. From TV stars and notable athletes to TikTok creators and comedic legends, Cameo has helped fulfill 2.5 million magical moments since our launch in 2017, and just in this past year, we have welcomed almost 10,000 new stars. In support of our employer brand efforts, we’ve grown our employee base by 30% and reached 50/50 gender parity on our global leadership team. In addition, in March of 2021, we announced Cameo’s $100M Series C funding, which brings our total funding to more than $165M, at a valuation of just over $1B. Some of the recognition were most proud of includes LinkedIns Top 50 Startups in 2021, our very own Steven Galanis being recognized by Goldman Sachs as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2021, Cameo was ranked #1 on The Information’s TI50 Most Promising Startups, among Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies, Inc.’s Best In Business 2020, and Business Insider’s Top 100 Startups of 2020. Read more on our Cameo Blog today: https://cameoblog.medium.com/
Board Observer
Jun 2018
Multiverse is the upskilling platform for AI and tech adoption. We’ve built a new model for transforming today’s workforce by combining expert human coaching with AI. Our learning drives real business impact and helps organisations close critical skills gaps - especially in data, AI and all things tech. We’ve already partnered with over 1,500 global organisations to transform their workforce through tech skills. Trusted by Microsoft, Mars, John Lewis Partnership and many more to upskill their team and unlock people’s potential and output. In 2022, we raised our $220m Series D funding - one of the largest venture rounds in EdTech history. We’re proud to be backed by some of the world’s biggest investors, including General Catalyst, Lightspeed Venture Partners and StepStone Group. We deliver a new kind of learning that boosts productivity and prepares talent for jobs of the future. We’re building a world where tech skills unlock people’s potential and output. And in doing so, providing equal access to economic opportunity - for everyone.
Board Member
May 2018
Supercharged Clean Artistry Makeup Powered By Innovation. High-tech + high-pigment + high-performance, no compromise color with skincare benefits. Made with kindness - clean + cruelty free + vegan. The Future Is Beautiful 💚
Board Member
Feb 2018
Our Core Belief: The brands of the future can only exist if they positively impact people. Our Company Value Prop: Our brands are human-friendly, and accessible for 100% of people, not just the 1%. Our Mission Statement: Brandable is a consumer packaged goods platform focused on innovating, curating, and creating brands that enable people to live their best life. We Are Reimaging CPG Forever. We Enable Modern Retailers And Emerging Brands To Grow Through Our Platform. We Use Proprietary Technology To Create, Curate, Manufacture, Market and Sell Digitally Omni-Channel Brands Through Our Platform.
early stageConsumer Goods
Board Observer
Dec 2017
goop is a lifestyle platform dedicated to exploration, curation, and groundbreaking conversation. From its award-winning beauty and fashion lines to its expansive editorial lens, goop invites women to embrace the process of becoming, and to discover deep joy in the pursuit of pleasure, beauty, and growth in all phases of life. Gwyneth Paltrow began goop in the fall of 2008 as a weekly newsletter. It has expanded into a beauty, fashion, and food business that’s also known for its products, curation, podcast, TV shows, live events, and retail stores.
Board Member
Oct 2017
Girlboss is a community of ambitious women and your navigator for the future of work. We’re here to spark the thrill of possibility, to inspire and inform, so that you can find success on your terms. As a modern media brand, Girlboss creates engaging, resonant content for our audience of 2M+ across multiple channels. These include our website, where we post long-reads, how-tos and profiles, and Girlboss Daily, our must-read morning newsletter. Girlboss Radio is our iconic podcast, which brings listeners career advice they can actually use, via conversations between new host, Avery Francis, and an impressive roster of guests. We also engage our community through Girlboss Goods, a marketplace of products by women-founded small businesses as well and Girlboss Jobs, a job board of dream postings to help our community level up. We believe in transparency and feedback, taking extreme ownership, being positive problem solvers, infinite learners, under-promising and over-delivering and having fun along the way. Girlboss is powered by a small and mighty fully remote global team.
Board Member
Oct 2017
Girlboss is a community of ambitious women and your navigator for the future of work. We’re here to spark the thrill of possibility, to inspire and inform, so that you can find success on your terms. As a modern media brand, Girlboss creates engaging, resonant content for our audience of 2M+ across multiple channels. These include our website, where we post long-reads, how-tos and profiles, and Girlboss Daily, our must-read morning newsletter. Girlboss Radio is our iconic podcast, which brings listeners career advice they can actually use, via conversations between new host, Avery Francis, and an impressive roster of guests. We also engage our community through Girlboss Goods, a marketplace of products by women-founded small businesses as well and Girlboss Jobs, a job board of dream postings to help our community level up. We believe in transparency and feedback, taking extreme ownership, being positive problem solvers, infinite learners, under-promising and over-delivering and having fun along the way. Girlboss is powered by a small and mighty fully remote global team.
Board Observer
Mar 2017
At Rothy’s, we’re committed to constantly optimizing our sustainable efforts. From our planet-friendly materials to the way we treat our team members, we consider sustainability every step of the way. And we’ve been that way since the very beginning.
early stageManufacturing
Investor
2017
Illumix is an AR technology and media company that empowers the creation of AR-first experiences. We’ve done the heavy lifting to build the underlying capabilities and user interactions that make building any dynamic AR experience effortless.
Board Observer
Sep 2016
Were Zola, the wedding company that’ll do anything for love, and were reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience. Wherever love leads you—from engagement to wedding and decorating your first home—we’re there, combining compassionate customer service with modern tools and technology. Founded by many of the early team members from Gilt Groupe, Zola is recognized as today’s fastest growing wedding registry. With the launch of Zola Weddings, the company is now poised to become a dominating player in the wedding industry. Visit zola.com for more information.
Seed Investor
Sep 2014
We’re specialists in pre-seed and seed. The startups we back go far. Best-in-class founders do not come around every day. When they do, we jump at the opportunity to work together. Our approach is to work with just a small number of best-in-class founders so we can dig in and go deep.
Experience · 21 entries
All (21)
Investments (16)
Founder (1)
Board (14)
2025
Managing Partner, Co-Founder @ Connect Ventures
Nov 2025
Connect Ventures is an investment partnership between leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and global venture capital firm New Enterprise Associates (NEA). With access to CAA’s unmatched resources, relationships, and expertise spanning the global media, entertainment, and sports landscape, combined with the deep investing and company building expertise of NEA’s world-class technology practice, Connect Ventures identifies and accelerates the growth of early-stage consumer-focused businesses.
2023
Board Member
May 2023
the operating system for the content economy
2020
Board Member
Dec 2020
Real is a team of innovators, clinicians, and technologists on a mission to make caring for our mental health a priority. Were redesigning mental health care through a digital platform and in-person experiences, integrating empathy, design, and progressive care to build the most elevated end-to-end product, while also improving the quality of care itself. We’re not simply “normalizing” mental health care; we’re celebrating it. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR JOB SEEKERS -- PLEASE READ Unauthorized individuals claiming to be Real employees are extending false employment offers to steal money and personal information from job seekers. They are using legitimate websites and social media platforms and may use an unauthorized Real logo and employee name. Do not engage if you believe communication is fraudulent. Real employees communicate using email addresses that end with **@join-real.com.** **Real will never request money or credit card information or ask for personal details like address, social security number, bank information, or tax documents early in the interview process.** If you suspect you’ve encountered an instance of recruitment fraud: - To report a suspicious email or job ad, hi@join-real.com and include as much detail as possible (any documentation will assist us). - Report the email address as “Phishing” through your email provider. This will help get the email account shut down. - If you believe you have been a victim of online recruitment fraud, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at [ic3.gov](https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx) Real takes this very seriously and we hope by sharing this information we can prevent potential jobseekers from interacting with these scams.
Board Member
Jun 2020
Lunchclub is an AI superconnector that makes introductions for 1:1 video meetings. We are backed by Lightspeed, Coatue, and a16z. Our mission is to power a future of work where making new connections is easy, meaningful, and fun. Featured in CNBC, WSJ, Financial Times, and other press. Were hiring: https://jobs.lever.co/lunchclub/.
2019
Board Observer
Mar 2019
Calm is a leading mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Our flagship consumer app—ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across nearly 190 countries—helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices. Since our launch, we’ve expanded our offerings with Calm Sleep, an app providing deeper, personalized sleep support, and Calm Health, an evidence-based digital solution offered through employers, health plans, and providers to expand access, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes. Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 26 million covered lives through Calm Health. Recognized as a TIME100 Most Influential Company and one of Fast Company’s Brands That Matter, Calm was co-founded by Alex Tew (Million Dollar Homepage) and Michael Acton Smith (Mind Candy, Moshi Monsters, Firebox).
Show all 21 entries ↓
Investment activity
2014–2023 · 16 investments
20141201612017520185201912020220231
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