Madison McIlwain
InvestorPartner, Seed at Defy Partners
San Francisco, California, United States
Writes $100K – $10M checks
Find your path to Madison
3,132 people in our graph share verified history with Madison — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Teresa ChanunlockedMadison: together at Gap Inc.
×11Madison: together at Harvard Business School
About
Madison McIlwain combines VC-family pattern recognition with hands-on retail, e-commerce and product experience, and leverages founder conversations from the Forbes-recognized The Room Podcast she co-founded for empathy-driven sourcing and diligence.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningConsumerEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Experience
- VercelStartups GTM Leadcurrent2026 — presentSan Francisco, CA
- VercelStartups and VC Ecosystem Lead2025 — 2026San Francisco, CA
- The Room PodcastCo-Host & Foundercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- LVMHDigital Innovation2024New York, United States
- defy.vcPartner, Seed2020 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
- Gap Inc.Technical Product Manager - Returns Optimization & Order Management2018 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- EightResearch and Data Management Intern2017New York, NY
- Dartmouth CollegeEndowment Intern (Hanover Office)2016 — 2017Hanover, NH
- Rent The RunwayIntern2017Greater New York City Area
- Golden Bell PartnersCollege Ambassador2015 — 2016
- Roundtable Investment Partners & Carleon Capital PartnersInvestment Team Intern2015New York, New York
Skills & more
Product Management4Design Thinking3Agile Methodologies2Supply Chain OptimizationOrder Management
From Madison's professional profile.
Colleagues at Defy Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Madison McIlwain?
- Madison McIlwain combines VC-family pattern recognition with hands-on retail, e-commerce and product experience, and leverages founder conversations from the Forbes-recognized The Room Podcast she co-founded for empathy-driven sourcing and diligence.
- Where does Madison McIlwain work?
- Madison McIlwain is Partner, Seed at Defy Partners.
- What does Madison McIlwain invest in?
- Madison McIlwain invests in AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Enterprise Software, Fintech, SaaS.
- What check size does Madison McIlwain write?
- Madison McIlwain typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- Where did Madison McIlwain go to school?
- Madison McIlwain studied at Harvard Business School (Master of Business Administration - MBA); Dartmouth College (Bachelor's degree, Major: History); Holy Names Academy.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Dartmouth College568
Scott SandellExecutive Chairman & Chief Investment Officer at NEAJames DetweilerVP of Investments at Felicis VenturesBen RobbinsInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Mounisha AnumoluInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Ren RileyAdvisor at Oak Investment PartnersJeffrey PaineFounding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures
+ 562 more
Also attended Holy Names Academy6
Bailey DickeyInvestor at Notable CapitalJessica PanarellaVice President at SG Credit PartnersClaire GaddExecutive Director at Stacks FoundationAparajita ChauhanInvestor at Left Lane CapitalElizabeth GrayFinance Manager at Seven Seven SixShannon DuffySenior Project Coordinator, Investments at Belveron Partners
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Shared employers
Also worked at Vercel34
Guillermo RauchFounder & CEO of VercelSangeen ZebInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glenn SolomonInvestor at GGV CapitalOren YungerInvestor at GGV CapitalGeoff LewisFounder & Managing Partner at BedrockAaron BrownSecurity Advisor at Modern Technical
+ 28 more
Also worked at LVMH33
Marjolaine CatilPrincipal at Newfund CapitalLitzie MaarekFounding Partner at EducapitalCyril GuenounInvestor at Aglae VenturesCristina VenturaCatalyst for sustainable impact connecting global talent, corporates and investorsEvgenia MacphersonChief of Staff at Owl VenturesAlex MontefalcoTSG Vantage Team at TSG Consumer Partners
+ 27 more
Also worked at Gap Inc.53
Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesTeresa ChanChief Financial Officer at Felicis VenturesBob GenchiCIO/CISO at Scale Venture PartnersVarsha RaoExecutive Partner at Flare Capital PartnersMichael MarquezInvestor at E12 Venture Capital, LlcNettie ReyesVP of Operations at Sozo Ventures
+ 47 more
Also worked at Dartmouth College56
Ryan HaysBoard Member at CincyTechErica SunFinance/Legal/IR at 8VCJeff RichardsInvestor at GGV CapitalErica Ruliffson SchultzPresident, Field Operations (former), Confluent at Operator CollectiveBen HemaniFounding Partner at Bison VenturesMegan GormanAssociate, Investment Team at Runway Growth Capital
+ 50 more