Where does Cindy Padnos work?

Cindy Padnos is Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures and Board director at IP Author and Board director at Birdie SSOT Corp. and Board director at CafeX Communications.

What check size does Cindy Padnos write?

Cindy Padnos typically writes checks of $250K – $1.5M.

What boards does Cindy Padnos sit on?

Cindy Padnos holds tracked board seats at → Arkestro, Birdie SSOT Corp., CafeX Communications.

Where did Cindy Padnos go to school?

Cindy Padnos studied at Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business (MSIA/MBA); University of Michigan (AB); Kingswood School Cranbrook.

Cindy Padnos

Investor

Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures · Board director at IP Author · Board director at Birdie SSOT Corp. · Board director at CafeX Communications

Oakland, California

Writes $250K – $1.5M checks · typically $1M

About

Cindy Padnos leverages four prior careers—large tech, consulting, multiple early-stage operating roles including CEO and founding a venture-backed startup—to bring execution-focused, hands-on board support and an enterprise-first B2B focus.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

c•••@illuminate.comreveal

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS

Board director at IP Author

Intro paths

→

In turn, Cindy can intro founders to IP Author's investors below.

IP Author's investors · 2

eLab VenturesAnn Arbor · $25K – $100K checks · since 2025 Illuminate VenturesOakland · $100K – $1.5M checks · since 2025

Co-founders at IP Author

Samir RaiyaniExecutive Officer, Director

Board director at Birdie SSOT Corp.

Intro paths

→

In turn, Cindy can intro founders to Birdie SSOT Corp.'s investors below.

Birdie SSOT Corp.'s investors · 1

Illuminate VenturesOakland · $100K – $1.5M checks · since 2022

Co-founders at Birdie SSOT Corp.

Patricia Osorio de Moraes GarciaDirector

Marco Camhaji NettoDirector

Board director at CafeX Communications

Intro paths

→

In turn, Cindy can intro founders to CafeX Communications's investors below.

CafeX Communications's investors · 1

Illuminate VenturesOakland · $100K – $1.5M checks · since 2016

Experience

Illuminate VenturesFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2010 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
ArkestroInvestor & Board Membercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
BirdieInvestor & Board Membercurrent2022 — present
LabraInvestor & Board Membercurrent2025 — present
Intelo.aiInvestorcurrent2025 — present
ContentstackInvestorcurrent2018 — presentAustin, Texas Metropolitan Area
IP AuthorInvestorcurrent2025 — present
Brevity - Your A.I. Sales CoachInvestorcurrent2024 — present
PerceptixInvestorcurrent2025 — present
Provarity.AIInvestorcurrent2024 — present
TAZI AI SystemsInvestorcurrent2022 — present
JetStream Software, IncInvestorcurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
JacobiInvestorcurrent2017 — present
Bedrock AnalyticsInvestorcurrent2015 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of BusinessBusiness Board of Advisorscurrent2000 — presentGreater Pittsburgh Region
BrightEdgeInvestor & Board Member (Taken Private)2008 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
CoupangInvestor (IPO NYSE)2009 — 2022
Allocadia, an Uptempo companyInvestor (acquired by Rubicon Technology Partners)2014 — 2021Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Xactly CorpInvestor & Board Member (IPO NYSE then acquired by Vista)2006 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
Sense Platform (acquired by Cloudera)Investor2014 — 2016San Francisco Bay Area
Opsmatic (acquired by NEWR: New Relic)Investor and Board Observer2013 — 2015San Francisco Bay Area
Sim Ops Studios (acquired by ADSK: Autodesk)Investor & Board Member2008 — 2010San Francisco Bay Area
Outlook VenturesDirector2004 — 2008San Francisco, CA
Venture ConsultingManaging Director2002 — 2004San Francisco Bay Area
Vivant Corporation (acquired by EVLV/ORCL)Founder & CEO1998 — 2001Oakland, CA
Acumen InternationalPresident & CEO1996 — 1998San Rafael, CA
Scopus Technology, Inc. (IPO SCOP/acquired by ORCL)Vice President, Marketing1992 — 1995Emeryville, CA
IDE - Interactive Development EnvironmentsMarketing Director1991 — 1993San Francisco, CA
Ingres (Relational Technology)Marketing Director1989 — 1991Alameda, CA

Skills & more

Leadership52SaaS99Venture Capital99Start-ups99Cloud Computing83Entrepreneurship74Enterprise Software46Strategic Partnerships69

Languages French

From Cindy's professional profile.

Deals · 3

→ ArkestroBoard seat

via Illuminate Ventures · filed Feb 2023 · $40.3M raise

Birdie SSOT Corp.Board seat

via Illuminate Ventures · filed Feb 2022 · $8.5M raise

CafeX CommunicationsBoard seat

via Illuminate Ventures · filed Dec 2016

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Colleagues at Illuminate Ventures

Bill Welch

Venture Partner at Illuminate Ventures

Jennifer Savage

Partner at Illuminate Ventures

Network8

Scott SandellScout

Executive Chairman & Chief Investment Officer at NEA

Ben BayatScout

Managing Partner at NextGen Venture Partners

Jeff ImmeltScout

Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA)

Teddie WardiScout

Co-founder & Special Advisor at Icebreaker

Bill Welch

Venture Partner at Illuminate Ventures

Edson Rigonatti

Co-founder & General Partner at Astella

Jennifer Savage

Partner at Illuminate Ventures

Rebecca Norlander

Venture Partner at Illuminate Ventures

Investors connected to Cindy in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Cindy Padnos?: Cindy Padnos leverages four prior careers—large tech, consulting, multiple early-stage operating roles including CEO and founding a venture-backed startup—to bring execution-focused, hands-on board support and an enterprise-first B2B focus.
Where does Cindy Padnos work?: Cindy Padnos is Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures and Board director at IP Author and Board director at Birdie SSOT Corp. and Board director at CafeX Communications.
What does Cindy Padnos invest in?: Cindy Padnos invests in AI & Machine Learning, Data & Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Fintech, SaaS.
What check size does Cindy Padnos write?: Cindy Padnos typically writes checks of $250K – $1.5M.
What boards does Cindy Padnos sit on?: Cindy Padnos holds tracked board seats at → Arkestro, Birdie SSOT Corp., CafeX Communications.
Where did Cindy Padnos go to school?: Cindy Padnos studied at Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business (MSIA/MBA); University of Michigan (AB); Kingswood School Cranbrook.