Aileen Lee
InvestorManaging Partner at Cowboy Ventures
Palo Alto, CA
Writes $500K β $3M checks Β· typically $1M
About
Aileen Lee founded the seed-stage firm Cowboy Ventures in 2012 after more than a decade at Kleiner Perkins. She coined the term 'unicorn' for billion-dollar startups in a 2013 essay and co-founded All Raise, the nonprofit working to advance women in venture capital.
aileenlee @aileenlee
Whoah. Just landed in Chicago for a family wedding (congrats ryan & Brianna!!π) Itβs crazy smoky here from the Canadian fires. Thinking of our Canadian friends and folks with lung issues - hoping everyone stays as safe & healthy as possible. πππ https://t.co/lYqHqZV4Fx

Jul 17, 2026 Β· β₯ 7
aileenlee @aileenlee
You are a treasure, Lexi Reese. Thank you for sharing and, THANK YOU to all our incredible healthcare workers, esp at the @nih. https://t.co/XHF99P3Cqo
Jul 9, 2026 Β· β₯ 6
aileenlee @aileenlee
βThere is a massive opportunity to reinvent every layer of the physical world stackβ¦β. Like it @rebeccakaden πππ https://t.co/gYDymX87Zh
Jul 8, 2026 Β· β₯ 13
Invests in
ConsumerDeveloper ToolsFintechHealthtechSaaS
Experience
- Cowboy VenturesFounder and Managing Partnercurrent2012 β presentpalo alto, ca
- All RaiseChairperson of the Board & Co-Foundercurrent2018 β present
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember, Computer Science & Electrical Engineering Visiting Committeecurrent2024 β presentCambridge, MA
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMember, Media Lab Visiting Committeecurrent2020 β presentCambridge, MA
- Castilleja SchoolMember Board of Trustees2018 β 2024Palo Alto, California, United States
- TIME'S UPBoard Member2019 β 2021
- Kleiner Perkins Caufield & ByersAssociate, Principal, Partner, General Partner & Senior Partner1999 β 2012Menlo Park, California, United States
- RMG NetworksFounding CEO2007 β 2009San Francisco Bay Area
- Gap Inc./Gap Inc. DirectBrand & Product Marketing, Gap Online1999San Francisco Bay Area
- Gap Inc./Gap Inc. DirectSpecial Assistant to CEO1998 β 1999San Francisco Bay Area
- Gap Inc./GapBusiness Development & Strategy1997 β 1998San Francisco Bay Area
- Morgan StanleyM&A Analyst1992 β 1994Greater New York City Area
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration (MBA)1995 β 1997
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Millburn High School
Skills & more
Languages Chinese
From Aileen's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School1,777
+ 1,771 more
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology849
+ 843 more
Also attended Millburn High School2
Shared employers
Also worked at All Raise47
+ 41 more
Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology271
+ 265 more
Also worked at Castilleja School1
Also worked at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers99
+ 93 more
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Aileen LeeE988 Cowboy Ventures' Aileen Lee on pioneering diversity in tech & VC, lessons from backing winners
This Week in Startups
Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures) & Emily Chang (Bloomberg) - Ten Years of Unicorns: What's next?
Startup Grind
4 Lessons from Aileen Lee @ Cowboy Ventures
ConfluenceVC: The VC Operating Playbook
The Unicorn Club 10 years later with Cowboy Venturesβ Aileen Lee | Equity Podcast
TechCrunch
Colleagues at Cowboy Ventures
Network10
Investors connected to Aileen in public investor directories β a warm-intro map.


















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