NVCA Unveils Winners of the 2023 Venture Capital Awards

SAN FRANCISCO –The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) revealed today the early visionaries, current-day leaders, and next generation of changemakers to be honored at its 50th anniversary Leadership Gala next Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. The winners from California, Utah, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota will be presented across five categories, including NVCA’s newly launched Venture Vanguard Award.

“The 2023 Leadership Gala and award ceremony coincides with NVCA’s 50th anniversary, which gives us even more reason to celebrate the industry’s continued growth and progress,” said NVCA President and CEO Bobby Franklin. “This year’s honorees have not only raised the bar for their significant contributions to foster innovation, advance technology, and drive new company formation, but they also reflect the diversity of the rapidly evolving VC community.”

Franklin added: “On behalf of NVCA and our board of directors, I am eager to congratulate the winners and usher in the next 50 years of transformative impact.”

The 2023 award recipients include:

Venture Vanguard Award  

• Brad Feld
• Jan Garfinkle
• Mary Meeker
• Alan Patricof
• In Memoriam: Don Valentine (1932-2019)

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Impact Award

• Chicago: Blend

Startup Innovator Award

• Slingshot Aerospace

Startup Champion Award

• Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA 16^th District)
• Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN 6^th District)

Rising Star Award

• Morgan Cheatham (Bessemer Venture Partners)
• Franz Kofler (Next Frontier Capital)
• Alex Lehman (Sapphire Ventures)
• Reva Nohria (General Catalyst)
• Faith Voinovich (Ohio Innovation Fund)

For more about the awards and next week’s event, please click here.

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The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital and startup community, NVCA advocates for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Serving the venture community as the preeminent trade association, NVCA arms the venture community for success, serving as the leading resource for venture capital data, practical education, peer-led initiatives, and networking. For more information about NVCA, please visit www.nvca.org.