Lauren began her career in M&A at Deutsche Bank, where she honed her skills in complex financial transactions across all sectors. Subsequently, she moved to BMO Capital Markets, where she led institutional leveraged finance transactions. Her career trajectory then led her to technology investment banking roles at William Blair and Mizuho, where she gained extensive experience working with high-growth technology companies that were both privately held or publicly traded.

At Swell Energy, Lauren served as Vice President of M&A, Capital Markets, and Investor Relations. In this role, she successfully led a $120M Series B fundraising round and spearheaded strategic M&A initiatives. This experience allowed her to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the rapidly evolving landscape in working with dynamic, forward-thinking companies in the venture capital industry.

"The intersection of finance and technology is driving significant innovation," Lauren notes. "By leveraging my experience in both sectors, I can expeditiously identify and support companies that are poised to shape the future."

Lauren’s ability to collaborate effectively with C-suite executives, functional teams, and external stakeholders, combined with her deep understanding of financial markets and emerging technologies, makes her a valuable asset to Venture Forward Capital.

"Lauren's extensive background in M&A, technology banking, and capital markets brings valuable expertise to our team," says Mike Schatzman, Founder & Managing Partner. "Her track record in complex financial transactions and experience with high-growth technology companies aligns perfectly with our investment focus."

‍About Venture Forward Capital 

Venture Forward Capital is led by partners who’ve built and guided high-performing teams across diverse industries. More than investors, we’re entrepreneurs who have launched and successfully exited companies. We focus on early-stage investments, backing visionary founders with AI-driven solutions—whether they’re repeat entrepreneurs with successful exits or first-time founders with proven startup success. Let’s venture forward together.