Laura Buhler

Partner & Head of Community at Felicis

Community-driven. Former leader of the C100, past growth & performance marketer and growth-stage BizDev & partnerships leader. Ex-McKinsey, Ex-Gilt, Ex-C100.

đź“Ť Current location: San Francisco Bay Area

work

Felicis invests in early-stage technology companies across sectors and geographies.I build the programs, experiences, strategic partnerships, and internal tools to engage and expand the Felicis network, for both our firm, and for our founders.

  • Felicis, Partner & Head of Community (2023- current)

  • The C100, CEO, 2016-2022

  • Gilt Groupe, Growth, Performance Marketing, BD, Strategy, Strategic Partnerships, 2012-2016

  • McKinsey & Co., Business Analyst, then Project Manager @ WEF (Secondee), 2008, 2009-2012

board & nonprofit

What I really like to do

  • Inspire people around a mission, vision, and goals

  • Hire, lead, and work on teams of positive, hard-working, growth-mindset people

  • Connect founders with well-aligned investors, customers, and other startup people

  • Produce and host differentiated events that deepen relationships

  • Do analyses and make charts to tell stories with data

  • Learn new software skills and no-code apps for automation & productivity

Interviews I've done

Interviews I've led or hosted

Operating principles at work

  • Lead with magnetism, positivity, and transparency

  • Learn constantly. Never ossify.

  • Autonomy is earned through accountability (to people, to commitments, to deadlines)

  • Directness is kindness (but only after the emotions have passed)

  • Dissolve the ego (working constantly at this one)

Investing & Advisory

While it has never been my main jam, pre-VC I did some advising and angel investing through my LLC, Loud Pika.The pika is my favourite animal for several reasons, not least of which is that you’ll never meet one below 8000 ft. They are industrious, vocal, stealthy, and future-aware.Some examples of fund/angel investments I've done:

Image created with Dall-E 2
Me doing falconry in the Scottish Highlands.

Outside of work

  • I love eating and cooking.

  • History buff - theater, opera, art, books, and podcasts.

  • Always outside nordic skiing, downhill skiing, or hiking.

  • Nature lover and bird watcher.

need to reach me?

I'm on Twitter, LinkedIn, or at laurabuhler [at] gmail [dot] com