Where does Carol Hilsum work?

Carol Hilsum is Founding Partner at Assembly Ventures.

Where did Carol Hilsum go to school?

Carol Hilsum studied at University of York (Master of Computer Science and AI, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services); Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (Blockchain Strategy Programme); London Business School (Leading Businesses into the Future - Senior Executive Programme).

Carol Hilsum

Investor

Founding Partner at Assembly Ventures · Advisor at TLF Ventures

United Kingdom

Find your path to Carol

272 people in our graph share verified history with Carol — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Bob ThomasunlockedCarol: together at University of York (2021–2023)

Carol: together at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

×2Carol: together at Farfetch

Carol: together at High School of Dundee

About

Carol Hilsum is Senior Director of Product for Commerce at commercetools. She brings over twenty years of experience in consumer and consumer technology, having held senior roles in commercial, technology, data, and customer experience at Topshop, Farfetch, and Net-A-Porter across organizations ranging from seed stage to post-IPO. At Farfetch, she led corporate ventures and open innovation strategy, overseeing investments in over 40 startups and three acquisitions, and founded Assembly Ventures, an angel group and growth platform supporting early-stage consumer startups in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors.

Experience

commercetoolsSenior Director Product - Commercecurrent2026 — presentLondon
Assembly VenturesFounding Partnercurrent2024 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
Arāya VenturesLimited Partnercurrent2024 — presentLondon Area, United Kingdom
ImaginaryInvestment Scoutcurrent2023 — present
TLF VenturesInvestment Board Membercurrent2021 — present
ArtefactSenior Advisor2024 — 2026London Area, United Kingdom
StudioThreeCo-Founder2023 — 2025
FARFETCHSenior Director of Open Innovation and New Venture2023London, England, United Kingdom
FARFETCHSenior Director of Product Innovation2020 — 2023
FARFETCHDirector Of Innovation2019 — 2020
FARFETCHDirector of Product Planning and Strategy2017 — 2019London, United Kingdom
WANNAAdvisory Board Member2022 — 2023
THE DEMATERIALISEDAdvisor2020 — 2023
Lyra VenturesAdvisor2021 — 2023
THE NET-A-PORTER GROUPHead of Product, Commerce2014 — 2016London, United Kingdom
THE NET-A-PORTER GROUPHead of CRM and Product Owner (Customer and Order)2010 — 2014
THE NET-A-PORTER GROUPCRM Manager2010
TOPSHOP TOPMANCRM Manager2007 — 2010
TOPSHOP TOPMANMarketing Executive2006 — 2007London, United Kingdom
TOPSHOP TOPMANGraduate Trainee2005 — 2006London, United Kingdom

Skills & more

P & L Oversight8Investment Management8Director level5Artificial Intelligence (AI)Scouting1Start-up ConsultingLean StartupStart-up VenturesEarly-Stage Startups2Growth HackingBusiness Growth StrategiesProfitable Growth

+12 more

Strategic Planning for GrowthStartup DevelopmentInnovation DevelopmentTechnological InnovationInnovation ConsultingBusiness InnovationCross-functional Team LeadershipStrategic LeadershipCommunicationventure studioManagementStrategy

Scrum Master Certified (SMC) — Scrum Alliance
Certified Product Owner — Scrum Alliance

From Carol's professional profile.

Colleagues at Assembly Ventures

Chris Thomas

Co-Founder & Partner at Assembly Ventures

Felix Scheuffelen

Co-Founder & Advisor at Assembly Ventures

Jessica Robinson

Co-Founder & Partner at Assembly Ventures

John Cullen

Associate at Assembly Ventures

Philipp von Hagen

Managing Partner at Future Industry Ventures

Sujoy Sarkar

Director at Assembly Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is Carol Hilsum?: Carol Hilsum is Senior Director of Product for Commerce at commercetools. She brings over twenty years of experience in consumer and consumer technology, having held senior roles in commercial, technology, data, and customer experience at Topshop, Farfetch, and Net-A-Porter across organizations ranging from seed stage to post-IPO. At Farfetch, she led corporate ventures and open innovation strategy, overseeing investments in over 40 startups and three acquisitions, and founded Assembly Ventures, an angel group and growth platform supporting early-stage consumer startups in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle sectors.
Where does Carol Hilsum work?: Carol Hilsum is Founding Partner at Assembly Ventures.
Where did Carol Hilsum go to school?: Carol Hilsum studied at University of York (Master of Computer Science and AI, Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services); Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (Blockchain Strategy Programme); London Business School (Leading Businesses into the Future - Senior Executive Programme).

Same school

Also attended University of York85

Bob ThomasPartner at Oxx Nicole QuinnCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Connect Ventures Phil VenablesVenture Partner at Ballistic Ventures Anthony AvedissianPartner at Canonical Crypto Conor ScanlanAssociate Partner at Nauta Capital Chris McCourtInvestment Director at Mercia Ventures

+ 79 more

Also attended Saïd Business School, University of Oxford417

Manuk HergnyanCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Granatus Ventures Mike MoradiGeneral Partner at Cortado Ventures Daniel van der MerweSenior Director at JMI Equity Connor WhitingFinance Associate at Giant Ventures Global Llp Brendan BakerPartner at Rackhouse Venture Management Lp Morgan GerlakPartner at TCV

+ 411 more

Also attended University of Strathclyde111

ThomasGeneral Partner at Acadian Ventures Management, Llc Rowena PatelFinancial Director at Advent Life Sciences Adarsh GiriInvestment Associate at Blockchain Coinvestors Rob DesboroughGeneral Partner and Chair of Seraphim Space Accelerator at Seraphim Space Rupert LyleInvestment Director at Future Planet Capital Ross StrachanInvestor at Adara Ventures

+ 105 more

Also attended High School of Dundee2

Sarah MandersonLegal Director at Hoxton Ventures Andrew GuestInvestment Associate at Imbiba

Shared employers

Also worked at commercetools6

Kim DangHead of Ecosystem at Planet A Ventures Kelly GoetschPresident, Pipe17 at Mu Ventures Richard WellsManaging Director at Insight Partners Andrew BurtonCEO, commercetools at Venture Guides Management, L.P.Dirk HoerigCo-founder & Chief Innovation Officer at Commercetools Hajo EichlerExecutive Team (Technology) at Commercetools

Also worked at Imaginary10

Natalie MassenetFounding Partner at Imaginary Venture Capital Nicholas BrownFounding Partner at Imaginary Venture Capital Kelly DillPartner at Imaginary Venture Capital Logan LangbergPartner at Imaginary Venture Capital Andrew MaxmanPrincipal at Imaginary Venture Capital Tara CampbellSenior Associate at Imaginary Venture Capital

+ 4 more

Also worked at Artefact8

Tim RingelGroup CEO at Meet The People Ryan ShermanSenior Manager - Digital Performance and Marketing at BGH Capital Mohamed DiabakhateData Engineer at Digital Africa Jack BowenFounder at CoLoop Sophie NadlerCommunication Manager at GF BRYCK Ventures Oliver SipinenInvestor at Equilibrium Ventures

+ 2 more

Also worked at WANNA1

Anna MelnichekPartner at Melnichek Investments