About
Catherine Lu is co-founder and CEO of Essential, an AI-powered software platform designed to automate back-office operations for fire protection and commercial service businesses. The platform handles customer outreach, scheduling, and related functions while integrating with existing systems. Essential was developed by business owners and software technologists to address operational challenges in the fire protection industry.
Experience
- EssentialCo-Founder & CEOcurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Alumni VenturesManaging Partner at Basecamp Fund (Seed Fund)2017 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
- DataVisorDirector of Product2016 — 2017
- Palantir TechnologiesProduct Lead, Forward Deployed Product Development2015 — 2016Via FT Technologies acquisition
- FT TechnologiesCo-Founder2014 — 2015Acquired by Palantir
- GoogleAssociate Product Manager Intern2013New York, New York, United States
- GoogleSoftware Engineering Intern2012Mountain View, California, United States
Education
- Stanford UniversityMaster of Science (M.S.), Computer Science
- Stanford UniversityBachelor of Science (B.S.), Computer Science
- Mission San Jose High SchoolValedictorian
Colleagues at Prosperity7 Ventures
Abhishek Shukla
Managing Director at Prosperity7 Ventures
Andrew St. Clair
Sr. Investment Associate at Prosperity7 Ventures
Anupam Singh
Investor at Prosperity7 Ventures
Asif Giga
Investment Director at Prosperity7 Ventures
Aysar Tayeb
Managing Director at Prosperity7 Ventures
Balsam Alsaif
Head of FoF Investments at Prosperity7 Ventures
Benjamin Yang
Sr. Investment Principal at Prosperity7 Ventures
Binbin Chen
Research Associate at Prosperity7 Ventures
Network7
Andrea FunstenScout
Managing Partner at Basecamp Fund
.png)
Mark MullenScout
Co-Founder and Managing Director at Bonfire Ventures
Matt OckoScout
Founder and Managing Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)
Arash Afrakhteh
Partner at Pear VC
Ashmeet Sidana
Founder and Chief Engineer at Engineering Capital
Jonathan Abrams
Co-Founder and General Partner at 8-Bit Capital
Kent Lindstrom
Co-Founder and General Partner at 8-Bit Capital
Investors connected to Catherine in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Catherine Lu work?
- Catherine Lu is Financial Controller at Prosperity7 Ventures.
Founder mafias
Stanford University mafia855
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reid HoffmanB.S.Founded Manas AI +1Joe LonsdaleBSFounded Opto +3Mike Maples JrBSFounded Pattern BreakersSteve JurvetsonBSEEFounded Mojo VisionBalaji SrinivasanGraduate StudentFounded Counsyl +1Jess LeeBSFounded Polyvore
+ 848 more
Mission San Jose High School mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jimmy QianValedictorianFounded OsmindGrace LeeHigh School DiplomaFounded Harvard Business SchoolVignesh VaradarajanFounded VogentAlex ChiouHigh School DiplomaFounded TaroNihar ParikhFounded AxleDarren HsuFounded Rubbrband
+ 7 more
Alumni Ventures mafia5
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Mission San Jose High School24
Rajeev DhamPartner at Sapphire VenturesMitty ChangChief Growth Officer & Operating Partner at Sora VenturesJustin YueAssociate at Geodesic CapitalAlexander FangManaging Partner at Entrada VenturesAnna ZengInvestor at E14 FundJimmy QianInvestor at Alix Ventures
+ 18 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Essential1
Also worked at Alumni Ventures61
Lauren KolodnyInvestor at Aspect VenturesRobert BibowManaging Partner at Parkway Venture CapitalZimri RodriguezVenture Programs Coordinator at Keyhorse CapitalTimInvestor at FortySix Venture CapitalChris FaheySVP, Talent & Human Resources at Volition CapitalGail BallEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation Space
+ 55 more
Also worked at DataVisor6
Also worked at Palantir Technologies200
Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorJoe LonsdaleFounder & Managing Partner of 8VCTrae StephensPartner at Founders Fund and co-founder of AndurilViviana FagaGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesBryan OffuttInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 194 more