Caterina Fake
InvestorFounderGeneral Partner at Yes VC · Board director at Don't Run Out · Board director at Sudden Coffee
San Francisco, California
Writes $30K – $1.5M checks · typically $250K
FoundedYes VC
Find your path to Caterina
253 people in our graph share verified history with Caterina — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Micah RosenbloomunlockedCaterina: together at Founder Collective (2010–2018)
×3Caterina: together at Etsy
×6Caterina: together at Founder Collective
Caterina: together at Choate Rosemary Hall
About
Caterina Fake, a humanities-trained artist and English literature major who co-founded Flickr as a community, spots cultural movements early—backing Kickstarter and Etsy—and hosts the podcast Should This Exist?
Contact· published on Caterina's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechConsumerMobility & TransportationSpace Tech
Board director at Don't Run Out
Intro paths
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In turn, Caterina can intro founders to Don't Run Out's investors below.
Don't Run Out's investors · 1
Board director at Sudden CoffeeYC W17
Intro paths
YC
Caterina went through Y Combinator (Winter 2017) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
→
In turn, Caterina can intro founders to Sudden Coffee's investors below.
Sudden Coffee's investors · 5
Co-founders at Sudden Coffee
JZ
Josh ZloofFounder/CEO
KF
Kalle FreeseExecutive Officer, Director
Founder at Yes VC
Intro paths
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In turn, Caterina can intro founders to Yes VC's investors below.
Yes VC's investors · 1
Co-founders at Yes VC
Experience
- Yes VCGeneral Partner & Investorcurrent2018 — presentHelsinki, Paris, San Francisco
- Sundance InstituteBoard of Trusteescurrent2015 — present
- Lifeline SPAC IBoard of Directorscurrent2021 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Finnish Museum of Architecture and DesignBoard of Advisorscurrent2022 — presentHelsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- INGENIOUS with Caterina FakeHost2023 — 2024
- MilttonBoard of Directors2021 — 2024Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
- Should This Exist?Host2019 — 2023NY, NY
- Founder CollectiveFounder Partner2009 — 2018
- EtsyChairman of the Board2009 — 2014
- EtsyBoard of Directors2006 — 2014New York City Metropolitan Area
- FinderyFounder & CEO2011 — 2013San Francisco Bay Area
- Creative CommonsBoard of Directors2008 — 2013
- Hunch, Inc.Cofounder, CPO & Board of Directors2008 — 2010New York City Metropolitan Area
- Yahoo!, IncMyWeb, Yahoo! Answers, TechDev, Brickhouse2005 — 2008
- Flickr/Ludicorp R & D, Ltd.Co-founder2002 — 2008
Skills & more
social mediaStart-ups61Entrepreneurship38Product Development6Web 2.014Product Design10Product Innovation3Angel Investing4Social Software1User Experience26Product Management16Venture Capital6
+12 more
Strategic PartnershipsSocial MediaMobile ApplicationsMobile DevicesE-commerceStrategyContent StrategyDigital StrategyLeadershipDigital MediaNew MediaCloud ComputingLanguages English · Finnish · French · Spanish
From Caterina's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Don't Run OutBoard seat
via Yes VC · filed Jul 2020 · $17.8M raise
Sudden CoffeeBoard seat
via Yes VC · filed Nov 2015 · $500K raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Yes VC
Network9
Ben SilbermannScout
Co-founder of Pinterest
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Ashley MayerScout
Co-founder and full-time GP at Coalition Operators
Deep NisharScout
Investment Team at General Catalyst
Jeff WeinerScout
Founding Partner at Next Play Ventures
Anna Barber
Partner at M13
Brad Zions
General Partner at Pitbull Ventures
Jeff Fluhr
Partner at Craft Ventures
Katie Stanton
Founder and General Partner at Moxxie Ventures
Max Mullen
Investor at Instacart
Investors connected to Caterina in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Caterina Fake?
- Caterina Fake, a humanities-trained artist and English literature major who co-founded Flickr as a community, spots cultural movements early—backing Kickstarter and Etsy—and hosts the podcast Should This Exist?
- Where does Caterina Fake work?
- Caterina Fake is Founder of Yes VC and General Partner at Yes VC and Board director at Don't Run Out and Board director at Sudden Coffee.
- What does Caterina Fake invest in?
- Caterina Fake invests in AI & Machine Learning, Climate Tech, Consumer, Mobility & Transportation, Space Tech.
- What check size does Caterina Fake write?
- Caterina Fake typically writes checks of $30K – $1.5M.
- What companies did Caterina Fake found?
- Caterina Fake founded Yes VC.
- What boards does Caterina Fake sit on?
- Caterina Fake holds tracked board seats at Don't Run Out, Sudden Coffee.
- Where did Caterina Fake go to school?
- Caterina Fake studied at The New School (Honorary Doctorate); Rhode Island School of Design (Honorary Doctorate); Vassar College (B.A., English Literature (cum laude)).
Founder mafias
Rhode Island School of Design mafia21
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Brian CheskyBachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)Founded AirbnbJoe GebbiaBFAFounded AirbnbCliff WeitzmanIndustrial and Product DesignFounded Speechify +1Royce HongBFAFounded Xing MobilityJohn XieFounded TaskadeEthan AndersonBachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)Founded Fynn
+ 14 more
Vassar College mafia16
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Harris GordonBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded Scalpel +1Kyle LefkoffBachelor of Arts (B.A.)Founded ArraybiopharmaDavid BookspanA.B.Founded Dreamit NYC 2014Anu DuggalBachelor of ArtsFounded FemalefoundersfundChristopher DeutschB.A.Founded teaBOTOlaf Carlson-WeeBachelor of Arts (BA)Founded Polychain
+ 9 more
Choate Rosemary Hall mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Austin OgilvieFounded Thoropass +1Suril KantariaHigh School DiplomaFounded Adaptional +1Jennie RippsHigh SchoolFounded Wise Owl Holdings +1Matt DunneFounded The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)Brett M. JohnsonHistoryFounded RhodeislandfcJonathan HirschFounded Synapticure
+ 7 more
The New School mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Haroon HassanMaster's degreeFounded Sense Street +1Ashok KamalMaster's degreeFounded OutsitePaul GadiPlatform Cooperatives NowFounded OpgamesNikos KatsaounisMAFounded SoundslingerAnia LipinskaOpen Campus - Continuing EducationFounded NotabeneJacob ThorntonMaster's degreeFounded Pierre
+ 7 more
Founder Collective mafia13
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Chris DixonCo-FounderFounded Founder CollectiveBill TrenchardFounder PartnerFounded LiveOps +1Nadia BoujarwahVenture PartnerFounded DIA Styling +1Micah RosenbloomGeneral PartnerFounded Founder CollectiveDavid FrankelGeneral PartnerFounded Founder CollectiveDave BiscegliaVenture PartnerFounded The Tap Lab
+ 6 more
Same school
Also attended The New School33
Sri PedduInvestor at Powerhouse VenturesAndrew NealonPartner & CTO at Joyance PartnersDena MarksSenior Grant Writer at PropellerAnnette StoverPartner at Brandtech VenturesBeatrix von SchröderVenture Partner at noaSteve SchlossOperating Partner at Edison Partners
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+ 27 more
Also attended Rhode Island School of Design28
Brian CheskyCo-founder & CEO of AirbnbJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbErica VanInvestment Director at Intel CapitalJoe FlahertyDirector, Content & Community at Founder CollectiveZoe AngellInvestor at Third Rock VenturesRebecca SilverDirector at NYU Innovation Venture Fund
+ 22 more
Also attended Vassar College51
Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewKevin SilverInvestment Operations Specialist at Golden SeedsJillian ShawVenture Partner at Magnetic VenturesVikram LakhwaraInvestor at Green Cow Venture CapitalCandace JohnsonSSIT Investment Committee at Seraphim SpaceWenyi HuangExecutive Director, Group Operations at The Spartan Group
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+ 45 more
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Shared employers
Also worked at Sundance Institute3
Also worked at Founder Collective36
Chris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder CollectiveAmanda HersonGeneral Partner at Founder CollectiveDavid FrankelSeed Stage Venture Capital in the United StatesEric PaleyEntrepreneur and Seed Investor in Cambridge, MADave BiscegliaVenture Partner at Founder Collective
+ 30 more
