About
Lenore Karafa, a former Marine officer with Iraq deployments, is an Operating Partner focused on leadership development who combines combat leadership with executive HR experience and advocates veteran leadership.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityData & InfrastructureDeep TechDefense TechHardware
Experience
- UA1 VCCo-Founder/Partnercurrent2025 — presentKyiv, Kyiv City, Ukraine
- Journey To LeadFellowcurrent2023 — present
- First InPartner / Advisor2022 — 2025
- Bunker LabsBoard President2020 — 2024
- CitadelGlobal Equities & Engineering2019 — 2021New York, New York
- Council on Foreign RelationsTerm Member2015 — 2020
- McChrystal GroupManaging Partner/Partner2013 — 2019Alexandria, VA
- Presidential Leadership ScholarsScholar2017
- SoFiDirector2012 — 2013Washington D.C. Metro Area
- Bank of AmericaDebt Capital Markets2009 — 2012New York
- Merrill LynchSummer Associate2008
- United States Marine CorpsCaptain2000 — 2007San Diego, CA: Quantico, VA ; Iraq
Education
- The Wharton SchoolMBA, Finance
- United States Naval AcademyBS, History
Skills & more
Organizational Effectiveness27Financial Modeling51Capital Markets39Program Management28Due Diligence25Military30Finance20Equities16Private Equity14Alternative Investments12Risk Management7Mergers & Acquisitions7
+12 more
Financial ServicesStrategic Financial PlanningCorporate DevelopmentInvestment StrategiesVenture CapitalInvestment BankingFixed IncomeSeries 7LeadershipStrategyStrategic PlanningManagementFrom Lenore's professional profile.
Colleagues at First In
Arthur Karell
Partner at First In
Bobby Tuohy
Advisor, Technology at First In
Brian O'Keefe
Advisor at First In
Brian Schmanske
Advisor, Dual-Use Technology at First In
Claudius E. Watts IV
Senior Advisor at First In
Gabrielle Fong
Senior Associate at First In
Ish Boyle
Advisor, Go-to-Market at First In
Jessica Nelson
Principal at First In
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Lenore Karafa work?
- Lenore Karafa is Partner at First In.
- What does Lenore Karafa invest in?
- Lenore Karafa invests in AI & Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Hardware.
- What check size does Lenore Karafa write?
- Lenore Karafa typically writes checks of $500K – $2M.
Same school
Also attended The Wharton School1,481
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJosh KopelmanFounder and Partner at First Round CapitalAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisKatie RiesterPartner, Head of Investor Relations at Felicis VenturesTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General Catalyst
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+ 1,475 more
Also attended United States Naval Academy72
Chad L. SummeBoard Member at CincyTechDouglas Lemott Jr.Vice President, SAP National Security Services at Riphean InvestmentsTony WellsVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalJuliane GallinaPartner at Lavrock VenturesMike SteadmanFounder, Coach, USNA '10 — writing, coaching, and designing categories for underdog military veteran founders and CEOsJohn DillonInvestor at Alsop Louie Partners
+ 66 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Citadel67
Robert CulpPrincipal at Marlin Equity PartnersDavid SnydermanManaging Partner and Global Head of Alternative Credit and Fixed Income at Magnetar AI VenturesFran AmicoExecutive Assistant at CAVU Consumer PartnersEvan FengPartner at CoinFundJohn GuCo-Founder and CEO at CaladanEvan AxelrodSenior Associate at Maccabee Ventures
+ 61 more
Also worked at Council on Foreign Relations60
Erez KalirVenture Partner at FJ LabsJosh WolfePartner and Co-Founder at Lux CapitalDeena ShakirPartner at Lux CapitalPam TholenHead of Investor Relations at ParadigmElsabet JonesAssociate at Buckhill CapitalJoel StennettBusiness Development & Public Policy Advisor at AI Capital
+ 54 more
Also worked at Presidential Leadership Scholars8
Zach PosnerManaging Partner & Co-Founder at LegalTechMaggie SprengerCo-Founder & General Partner at Audere CapitalIan EishenVenture Partner at Audere CapitalJohn ColemanCo-CEO and Board Member at Sovereigns Capital VentureNanxi LiuCo-Founder & CEO, Blaze at xfactor venturesRandy "Laz" GordonAdvisor at OUTPOST VENTURES
+ 2 more
Also worked at Bank of America243
Kirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesMatt CherianVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalAnthony LinHead of Intel Capital, Corporate Vice President at Intel CapitalAndrew WallaceVice President, Revolution Growth at RevolutionWilliam QuistGP at Slow VenturesAdrian KaniaSenior Associate at Sapphire Ventures
+ 237 more