Deborah Benton
InvestorFounder & Managing Partner at Willow Growth Partners
Los Angeles, California
Writes $750K – $1.3M checks · typically $1M
About
Founder and Managing Partner of Willow. Previously ran a family-office investment vehicle focused on seed-stage consumer brands, and held executive operating roles including President & COO of Nasty Gal, COO of ShoeDazzle, and EVP at Teleflora. She holds an MBA and BA from Queen's University.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AgTechConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechHealthtechImpact & Social Good
Experience
- Willow Growth PartnersFounder & Managing Partnercurrent2020 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
- Leaf GroupChair Of The Board Of Directors2020 — 2021
- Leaf GroupBoard Director2019 — 2021Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- Kaktus CapitalInvestment Partner2014 — 2020
- Mitchell Madison GroupPartner2014 — 2020Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- The Bouqs CompanyBoard Director2015 — 2020Venice, CA
- Carbon38Board Director2015 — 2020Los Angeles, CA
- TomboyXBoard Director2018 — 2019Greater Seattle Area
- Vow To Be ChicBoard Director2016 — 2018Santa Monica, CA
- Nasty GalPresident & Chief Operating Officer2012 — 2014Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- ShoeDazzleChief Operating Officer2009 — 2012
- TelefloraExecutive Vice President, Operations and Inside Sales2002 — 2006
- eToysDirector, Customer Strategy and Service1999 — 2001
- Mitchell Madison GroupConsultant1996 — 1999
- Competitive FoodsAssistant Controller1991 — 1994
Skills & more
Start-ups99Product Management99Talent Acquisition48E-commerce99Product Development99Business Strategy99P&L Management29Business Development77Cross-functional Team Leadership67Strategy99Strategic Partnerships88Strategic Planning56
+12 more
ForecastingProcess ImprovementLeadershipManagementProject ManagementAnalyticsTeam BuildingCRMMerchandisingMarketingEntrepreneurshipCompetitive AnalysisFrom Deborah's professional profile.
Deals · 1
Tomboy ExchangeBoard seat
via Willow Growth Partners · filed Jan 2019 · $1.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Willow Growth Partners
Network8
Brian LeeScout
Co-Founder and Managing Director at BAM Ventures
Jeff KearlScout
Partner at Pelion Venture Partners
Tina Bou-SabaScout
Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Verity Venture Partners
Amanda Schutzbank
Co-Founder and General Partner at Willow Growth Partners
Cristina Nuñez
Co-Founder & General Partner at True Beauty Ventures
Kara Nortman
Managing Partner at Monarch Collective
Laurel Mintz
General Partner at Fabric VC
Viktoriya Tigipko
Founding and Managing Partner at TA Ventures
Investors connected to Deborah in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Deborah Benton?
- Founder and Managing Partner of Willow. Previously ran a family-office investment vehicle focused on seed-stage consumer brands, and held executive operating roles including President & COO of Nasty Gal, COO of ShoeDazzle, and EVP at Teleflora. She holds an MBA and BA from Queen's University.
- Where does Deborah Benton work?
- Deborah Benton is Founder & Managing Partner at Willow Growth Partners.
- What does Deborah Benton invest in?
- Deborah Benton invests in AgTech, Consumer, Direct to Consumer, FoodTech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good.
- What check size does Deborah Benton write?
- Deborah Benton typically writes checks of $750K – $1.3M.
- What boards does Deborah Benton sit on?
- Deborah Benton holds tracked board seats at Tomboy Exchange.
- Where did Deborah Benton go to school?
- Deborah Benton studied at Queen's University (MBA, Business); Queen's University (BA, Health); Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu (Int'l MBA, Business).
Same school
Also attended Queen's University226
Steph TryphonasCo-founder of Collaborative RoboticsHark AhluwaliaAssociate at RevolutionSydney SloanChief Marketing Officer at Scale Venture PartnersZeya YangInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Curtis UrbanowiczInvestment at Makers FundSanjiv KalevarPartner at Mucker Capital
+ 220 more
Also attended Helsingin kauppakorkeakoulu15
Ilkka KivimäkiFounding Partner & Advisor at Maki.vcRoel BulthuisInvestor at SynconaInka MeroFounder & Managing Partner at Voima VenturesLinda HaapioCFO at Voima VenturesDmitry LevitPartner at Cento VenturesJuuso PuolanneInvestment Director at Tesi (Finnish Industry Investment Ltd)
+ 9 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Leaf Group6
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