Mindshift Capital Names Katherine Kirsch as New Venture Partner

By: WE staff | Monday, 10 November 2025

• Mindshift Capital has named Katherine Kirsch as Venture Partner
• She has experience in startups, product design, strategy, and academia
• Kirsch previously worked at San Francisco-based design firm IDEO in product and growth roles

Katherine Kirsch has been named Venture Partner at Mindshift Capital, with wide-ranging expertise in the leadership of startups, product design, operational strategy, and academic research.

Kirsch previously worked at San Francisco-based design and innovation firm IDEO, where she contributed to product and growth efforts, and later led AI-driven learning product development at Stockholm-based startup Sana Labs.

She is also founder of twenty, a mentorship platform that supports young adults as they enter their careers and personal lives.

She holds a B.S. in Product Design Engineering from Stanford University, where she graduated at the top of her class and was awarded the Robert McKim Design Award.

Katherine also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and has taught design research at Stanford’s d.school within the Mechanical Engineering department. She will be sourcing, assessing, and investing in women-led ventures in technology, healthtech, and education at Mindshift Capital.

She will also partner with founders, providing prototype development, team development, and growth strategy expertise.

Katherine's appointment expands Mindshift Capital’s international network and enhances the firm's mission of supporting visionary women founders with not simply funding, but also advisement and expertise.

"We're thrilled to have Katherine join our team," said Jessica Smith, Managing Partner at Mindshift Capital.

"Her entrepreneurial approach, design-based experience, and commitment to work for mission-driven founders, will bring immense value to our team and our portfolio, and continue to align with our approach to investing."

In addition to her role with Mindshift Capital, Kirsch will also serve as a board partner and growth advisor for SISU Collaborative, and will help to develop the company's performance platform, product roadmap and go-to-market strategy.