Madison McIlwain
InvestorPartner, Seed at Defy Partners
San Francisco, California, United States
Writes $100K – $10M checks
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
Education
- Harvard Business SchoolMaster of Business Administration - MBA2023 — 2025
- Dartmouth CollegeBachelor's degree, Major: History
- Holy Names Academy
Skills & more
Product Management4Design Thinking3Agile Methodologies2Supply Chain OptimizationOrder Management
From Madison's professional profile.
Colleagues at Defy Partners
Frequently asked questions
- 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.
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School1,969
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter Capital; architect of Invest America; BG2 co-hostAileen 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
+ 1,963 more
Also attended Dartmouth College398
Tomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory VenturesScott 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 Partners
+ 392 more
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Shared employers
Also worked at Vercel28
Sangeen ZebInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Dan CahanaPrincipal on the Investment Team at Notable Capital, focused on Cloud Infrastructure & AIGlenn SolomonInvestor at GGV CapitalOren YungerInvestor at GGV CapitalGeoff LewisFounder & Managing Partner at BedrockAaron BrownSecurity Advisor at Modern Technical
+ 22 more
Also worked at LVMH23
Marjolaine CatilPrincipal at Newfund CapitalLitzie MaarekFounding Partner at EducapitalCyril GuenounInvestor at Aglae VenturesCristina VenturaGeneral Partner & Chief Catalyst Officer at White Star CapitalHélène Henry-PrincePartner at Astanor VenturesAurore AsparInvestment Director at Citizen Capital
+ 17 more
Also worked at Gap Inc.31
Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesBob GenchiCIO/CISO at Scale Venture PartnersVarsha RaoExecutive Partner at Flare Capital PartnersMichael MarquezInvestor at E12 Venture Capital, LlcMatthew Le MerleManaging Partner & CEO at Blockchain CoinvestorsAdria HouInvestor at Inception Studio Capital
+ 25 more
Also worked at Dartmouth College35
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
+ 29 more