Fundraising Fox
Cindy Padnos
InvestorFounder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures · Business Board of Advisors at Carnegie Mellon University
Oakland, California
Writes $250K – $1.5M checks · typically $1M
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About
Founder of Illuminate Ventures, repeatedly cited by portfolio founders as a mentor and lead investor with experience as a SaaS company founder, executive, CEO, and venture investor.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
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.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Investor
AllocadiaBedrock AnalyticsBirdieBrevityBrightedgeCalmSeachanneleyesContentstackCoupangfinderaHooplaInfluactiveInteloJacobiJetStream SoftwareJoinderLitBitModsynFlux AINitrioOpsmaticPeerlystPexProvarityPyzeRed ArilSense PlatformWild PocketsXactlyYozio
Sources: curated public sources · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Illuminate Ventures
Network9
Investors connected to Cindy in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Cindy Padnos?
- Founder of Illuminate Ventures, repeatedly cited by portfolio founders as a mentor and lead investor with experience as a SaaS company founder, executive, CEO, and venture investor.
- Where does Cindy Padnos work?
- Cindy Padnos is Founder and Managing Partner at Illuminate Ventures and Business Board of Advisors at Carnegie Mellon University.
- 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.
- What companies has Cindy Padnos invested in?
- Investments tracked here include mpathic, Allocadia, Arkestro, Bedrock Analytics, Birdie, Brevity, Brightedge, CafeX Communications, CalmSea, channeleyes, Contentstack, Coupang, and 21 more.
- Does Cindy Padnos lead rounds?
- Yes — Cindy Padnos has led 1 tracked investment.
About this profile. Compiled from public sources — Illuminate Ventures's own website, regulatory filings and public professional profiles — and summarised by Fundraising Fox; every fact is kept with where it came from. Spotted an error, or would rather not be listed? Email privacy@fundraisingfox.com · How we build profiles · Your rights