{"id":722,"date":"2025-04-21T14:17:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T14:17:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/?p=722"},"modified":"2025-04-21T14:40:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T14:40:10","slug":"meet-sarah-kunst-cleo-capitals-trailblazing-leader-founders-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/meet-sarah-kunst-cleo-capitals-trailblazing-leader-founders-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Sarah Kunst: Cleo Capital&#8217;s Trailblazing Leader | Founder\u2019s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Small-Town Hustle to Silicon Valley Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Kunst is not your average venture capitalist. \ud83c\udf1f As the Founder and Managing Director of Cleo Capital, she brings a rare combination of lived entrepreneurial grit, marketing savvy, and bold, purposeful investing. From growing up in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to navigating Chanel\u2019s boardrooms, founding a sports media startup, and launching a venture fund with a mission\u2014Kunst has built her career across intersecting identities: operator, investor, and ecosystem reformer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This guide unpacks Sarah Kunst\u2019s multi-dimensional journey, her philosophy on leadership and investing, and the hard-won advice she offers to early-stage founders navigating today\u2019s unpredictable startup terrain. \ud83d\udcbc Whether you&#8217;re raising your first round, rethinking your founder mindset, or simply seeking inspiration from someone who&#8217;s walked both sides of the table\u2014Sarah Kunst has something valuable to offer. \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Built in the Real World: How Early Lessons Shaped a VC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up with entrepreneurial parents in Michigan, Sarah Kunst got a front-row seat to small business realities\u2014her father ran an insurance agency, and household conversations often centered on money, budgeting, and negotiation. \ud83d\udcb0 By middle school, she was negotiating her allowance and buying her own necessities\u2014lessons that would shape her instincts as a savvy operator and later, as a fierce advocate for financial literacy and negotiation, especially for women. \ud83d\udca1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In college, Kunst split her time between classrooms and real-world experience\u2014managing philanthropy projects for her sorority \ud83c\udf93, repping Apple on campus \ud83c\udf4f, and strategically setting her sights on New York\u2019s fashion and media scene. These weren\u2019t side hustles\u2014they were stepping stones. Every role built a toolkit that would later serve her as a founder and investor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her early post-grad stints at Chanel, Apple, and Red Bull taught her how iconic brands operate at scale. But by 2009, she pivoted into tech startups, landing at Guest of a Guest, and eventually Mohr Davidow Ventures, marking her early entry into the world of VC. Her trajectory wasn\u2019t accidental\u2014it was a deliberate, well-informed climb through layered industries. \ud83d\ude80<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Founding Years: What Proday Taught Her About the Grind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kunst didn\u2019t just fund startups\u2014she built one. \ud83d\udcaa In 2015, she founded <strong>Proday<\/strong>, a fitness platform that connected users to pro athletes\u2019 training routines. \ud83c\udfcb\ufe0f\u200d\u2640\ufe0f The startup gained traction, joined the Dodgers Accelerator, and positioned Kunst as a founder to watch. \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But behind the scenes, the journey was grueling. Sarah Kunst describes the founder grind as \u201cfar from glamorous\u201d and \u201calmost never fun.\u201d \ud83d\ude13 When Facebook\u2019s algorithm shifted, Proday\u2019s marketing engine broke down, and despite her best efforts, the company stalled. Years later, she referred to it as a sports media company that \u201cfailed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, the lessons were invaluable. From debugging operations to managing growth with limited resources, Sarah Kunst learned to operate across functions, make hard calls, and keep moving. She emerged with a clear-eyed view of what it takes to build something from scratch\u2014and why resilience and realism matter more than startup mythology. \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/app.xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\" Sarah Kunst speaking on stage at a startup or venture capital event, representing CLEO Capital.\" class=\"wp-image-724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sarah-Kunst-Founder-of-CLEO-Capital-at-an-event.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cleo Capital: A VC Firm Designed for the Overlooked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2018, Sarah Kunst launched <strong>Cleo Capital<\/strong> with a mission: fund overlooked founders and ideas that traditional VCs missed. The insight came while scouting for Sequoia, where she saw how few women had access to early-stage capital and deal flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cleo Capital now writes <strong>$100K\u2013$1M checks<\/strong> at the <strong>pre-seed and seed stage<\/strong>, often as the <strong>first institutional investor<\/strong>. It focuses on three thesis areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udcb0<strong>Future of Income<\/strong>: How people earn, grow, and manage wealth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udecd\ufe0f<strong>Complicated Consumer<\/strong>: Tackling nuanced consumer needs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udda5\ufe0f<strong>Decentralized Enterprise<\/strong>: Leveraging decentralization for innovation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Cleo isn\u2019t just about check-writing. Its <strong>scout model<\/strong>\u2014with a majority women network\u2014intentionally expands deal sourcing into underrepresented communities. Diversity isn\u2019t a feel-good add-on; it\u2019s a business edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that conviction is paying off. Cleo\u2019s portfolio includes <strong>Ellevest, FalconX, Groq, Hill House Home, Cameo<\/strong>, and more. Kunst&#8217;s approach is clear: back founders others don\u2019t see and give them enough early capital to focus, build, and win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How She Leads: Pragmatism, Purpose, and Straight Talk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Kunst\u2019s leadership style? Candid, gritty, and purpose-driven. \ud83d\udcaa She doesn&#8217;t sugarcoat founder life. Her mantra is direct: &#8220;Just get stuff done.&#8221; Her advice? Practical, blunt, and urgent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&#8220;Stop waiting for perfect. Launch the damn landing page.&#8221; \ud83d\ude80<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Your excuses suck.&#8221; \ud83e\udde0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8220;Sweat is required\u2014perseverance means you&#8217;re going to sweat a lot.&#8221; \ud83d\udd25<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet, beneath the hard edges lies a mission: use venture capital as a lever for systemic change. \ud83d\udee0\ufe0f Sarah Kunst wants to challenge assumptions about who gets funded, rewire decision-making power, and push founders to build companies that matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her advocacy is equally bold. From speaking up against sexual harassment in tech to mentoring through Cartier\u2019s Women\u2019s Initiative and leading philanthropic efforts, Kunst lives her values across all platforms. \ud83c\udf0d\u2728<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca1 Tactical Advice Every Founder Should Hear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Kunst\u2019s founder advice hits hard and sticks. \ud83c\udfaf It\u2019s not fluff or recycled quotes\u2014it\u2019s drawn from lived experience, wins and failures alike. Her guidance is both strategic and personal, designed to help founders survive the gauntlet of early-stage building and fundraising. \ud83d\udcbc Here are key takeaways she often shares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\ude80On Starting: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Start now. Don\u2019t wait for funding or permission. \u201cPick a name. Make a landing page. Just start.\u201d Small actions compound. \ud83c\udf1f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udde0On Mindset: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resilience is non-negotiable. Startup life is hard\u2014and often not fun. But growth comes through grit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfafOn Focus: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKnow your why.\u201d Don\u2019t chase markets you\u2019re not passionate about. Your time is your most valuable asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udcb8On Fundraising: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the terms are clean and the money is green, take the check. Be coachable\u2014ego kills companies faster than failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83e\udd1dOn Networking: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t cold pitch billionaires. Build real relationships and make specific, thoughtful asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u274cOn Imposter Syndrome:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThrow it out like a rotten apple.\u201d There\u2019s no room for it in the pitch room. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taken together, this advice forms a toolkit for execution-minded, high-resilience founders who are serious about growth. Sarah Kunst doesn\u2019t sugarcoat the work\u2014it\u2019s sweaty, unglamorous, and often uphill. \ud83e\uddd7 But her message is clear: if you commit to the process, you\u2019ll not only build something great\u2014you\u2019ll become someone capable of even more. \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/app.xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\" CLEO Capital logo or visual branding showcasing the venture fund\u2019s accelerator program for early-stage startups.\" class=\"wp-image-723\" srcset=\"https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator-1140x760.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/xraise.ai\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CLEO-Capital-accelerator.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making Moves: Programs, Exits, and Ecosystem Play<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cleo Capital isn\u2019t just deploying capital\u2014it\u2019s building infrastructure for founder success. \ud83e\uddf1 During COVID, Sarah Kunst launched <strong>Chrysalis<\/strong>, a founder-launchpad for laid-off tech workers. In 2024, Cleo rolled out a <strong>Cybersecurity Accelerator<\/strong> to fund consumer protection startups combating digital threats. \ud83d\udd10<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cleo has backed <strong>over 100 startups<\/strong> \ud83d\ude80, with exits like <strong>Rootine, Agora, and Rent the Backyard<\/strong>. And Kunst herself has earned serious recognition\u2014<strong>Forbes 30 Under 30, Top Black VC to Watch, and WSJ\u2019s Top Women in VC<\/strong>, among others. \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through board roles, speaking gigs \ud83c\udfa4, and nonprofit work, Kunst amplifies her impact across the ecosystem. Her voice is clear: <strong>VC can be better\u2014and more inclusive\u2014without sacrificing returns.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Founder Behind the Fund<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the spreadsheets and scout programs, Sarah Kunst is deeply human. \ud83c\udf31 Her first job? Working on a farm. \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83c\udf3e Her early lessons in negotiation came from arguing for hair product budgets as a kid. Her interests include <strong>crypto, investing, travel<\/strong> \u2708\ufe0f, and building wealth through both capital and contribution. \ud83d\udcb8<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She quotes Toni Morrison to describe her ethos:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That line is more than inspiration\u2014it\u2019s how she shows up, funds, leads, and mentors. \u2764\ufe0f It\u2019s what founders feel when they work with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Takeaways for Founders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sarah Kunst\u2019s story isn\u2019t about following a linear path\u2014it\u2019s about rewriting the playbook. \ud83d\udcd6 From boardrooms to burnouts, from Proday to portfolio exits, she\u2019s taken every experience and turned it into leverage. \ud83d\udd27 For founders, her message is clear:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd01<strong>Diversify your experience<\/strong>\u2014corporate, startup, investing\u2014it all compounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd25<strong>Use setbacks as fuel.<\/strong>Proday\u2019s lessons made Cleo stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f<strong>Prioritize practical execution.<\/strong>  Fancy pitch decks don\u2019t beat daily momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83e\udd1d<strong>Build your tribe.<\/strong>  From scouts to mentors, the right people matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udce2<strong>Don\u2019t play small.<\/strong>  Take up space, know your worth, and make noise for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a startup world still figuring out how to be inclusive, Sarah Kunst is already there\u2014investing, advising, and advocating. \ud83c\udf0d Her legacy is unfolding in every founder she funds and every system she challenges. \ud83d\udca1 And if you\u2019re a founder with something bold to build, her call to action is simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Start anyway. Learn by doing. Build something that matters. And don\u2019t wait for permission.<\/strong> \ud83d\udca5<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Recommended Article:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd16How to Get Accepted to <a href=\"https:\/\/app.xraise.ai\/blog\/how-to-get-accepted-to-cleo-capital-cybersecurity-accelerator\/\">Cleo Capital<\/a> Cybersecurity Accelerator<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Discover Sarah Kunst\u2019s journey from Proday founder to Cleo Capital VC, with tactical lessons, founder advice, and inclusive investing insights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_metasync_otto_title":"","_metasync_otto_description":"","_metasync_otto_keywords":"","_metasync_otto_og_title":"","_metasync_otto_og_description":"","_metasync_otto_twitter_title":"","_metasync_otto_twitter_description":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","_aioseo_title":"","_aioseo_description":"","_metasync_seo_title":"","_metasync_seo_desc":"","_metasync_breadcrumb_title":"","_metasync_primary_category":0,"_metasync_primary_product_cat":0,"_metasync_otto_disabled":"","_metasync_hreflang":"","_metasync_plugin_sync_ts":"","_metasync_robots_advanced":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_bookmark_settings":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[235],"class_list":["post-722","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-angel-investors","tag-sarah-kunst"],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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