About
Partner at Khosla Ventures leading frontier AI investments across infrastructure, enterprise, consumer, defense, and bio, and serving as Head of Capital Formation. Previously earned a DPhil in cancer and viral immunology as a Rhodes Scholar and bootstrapped a lab-grown diamond brand to profitability.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep Tech
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Nicole Fraenkel bootstrapped to profitability Or & Elle, a luxury lab-grown diamond brand.
- Education
- Studied at University of Oxford (DPhil, cancer and viral immunology) Studied at Johns Hopkins (degree, Neuroscience)
- Communities
- She completed her graduate work through the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.
- Awards
- Nicole Fraenkel was a Rhodes Scholar. She was named a Goldwater Scholar. She was a Hodson Trust Merit Scholar. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins.
- More
- During her graduate work she identified how antiviral immune responses can be co-opted to mount immune responses against Glioblastoma.
From Nicole's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Experience
- Khosla VenturesPartnercurrent2025 — presentMenlo Park, CA
- Khosla VenturesChief of Staff to Vinod Khosla2023 — 2025Menlo Park, California, United States
- Vida Ventures, LLCVenture Fellow2017Boston, MA
- Bridgewater AssociatesInvestment Associate2016Westport, CT
Education
- University of OxfordDPhil, Cancer Immunology2017 — 2022
- The Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor of Science (B.S.), Neuroscience2013 — 2016
Skills & more
Research
Languages English · French · Russian · Spanish
From Nicole's professional profile.
Deals · 2
General IntuitionLed round
via Khosla Ventures · filed Jun 2026
HighlightLed round
via Khosla Ventures
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Cellular IntelligenceMedalMedal/General IntuitionVero
Investor
Or & Elle
Sources: the firm's website · curated public sources.
Colleagues at Khosla Ventures
Adina Tecklu
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Adrian Radu
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Alex Morgan
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Alice Brooks
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Amy Kalokerinos
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Anne Foor
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Austin Hay
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Avisha Mehra Naganath
Investor at Khosla Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Nicole Fraenkel?
- Partner at Khosla Ventures leading frontier AI investments across infrastructure, enterprise, consumer, defense, and bio, and serving as Head of Capital Formation. Previously earned a DPhil in cancer and viral immunology as a Rhodes Scholar and bootstrapped a lab-grown diamond brand to profitability.
- Where does Nicole Fraenkel work?
- Nicole Fraenkel is Investor at Khosla Ventures.
- What does Nicole Fraenkel invest in?
- Nicole Fraenkel invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech.
- What companies has Nicole Fraenkel invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Cellular Intelligence, General Intuition, Highlight, Medal, Medal/General Intuition, Vero, Or & Elle.
- Where did Nicole Fraenkel go to school?
- Nicole Fraenkel studied at University of Oxford (DPhil, Cancer Immunology); The Johns Hopkins University (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Neuroscience).
- What awards has Nicole Fraenkel received?
- Nicole Fraenkel was a Rhodes Scholar. She was named a Goldwater Scholar. She was a Hodson Trust Merit Scholar. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins.
- Does Nicole Fraenkel lead rounds?
- Yes — Nicole Fraenkel has led 6 tracked investments.
Same school
Also attended University of Oxford955
Reid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockMichael MoritzFormer Partner at Sequoia Capital; Senior Adviser at Sequoia HeritageBrad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalGabriel PereyraCo-founder & President of HarveyDominic JacquessonInvestor at Index VenturesErin Price-WrightInvestor at Index Ventures
+ 949 more
Also attended The Johns Hopkins University246
Wes NicholsPartner at March Capital PartnersDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesJun JeonInvestor at Khosla VenturesElena VibochManaging Director at General CatalystScott RubinVenture Partner at Lux CapitalBlair ShaneInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 240 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Khosla Ventures83
Keith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesDelian AsparouhovPartner at Founders Fund and co-founder of VardaDavid WeidenInvestor at Khosla VenturesSamir KaulInvestor at Khosla VenturesSven StrohbandInvestor at Khosla VenturesAdina TeckluInvestor at Khosla Ventures
+ 77 more
Also worked at Vida Ventures, LLC19
Rajul JainManaging Director at Vida VenturesJill GoldsteinPrincipal at Vida VenturesMark SpringelPrincipal at Vida VenturesMaurizio FazioPrincipal at Atlas VentureAndrei Ramirez-ValdezVenture Associate at 82VSBeccaInvestor at Sanofi Ventures
+ 13 more
Also worked at Bridgewater Associates114
Max NovendsternCo-founder of Tools for Humanity; founder of ManaCoen ArmstrongInvestor at Spark CapitalJared FriedmanYC Group PartnerAnkit GuptaGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorMark LurieVenture Partner at FJ LabsJames WangGeneral Partner at Creative Ventures
+ 108 more