Lucy (Dog)

Brianne Kimmel

Birthday

September 12, 1988 (35)

Brianne Kimmel is an American venture capitalist known for her role as the founder of WorkLife Studios, a venture capital fund that focuses on the future of work by investing in early-stage startups. She is also recognized for her educational initiatives that aim to help early-stage founders succeed in the tech industry.

Kimmel’s influence in the venture capital world began with her role as a Go-To-Market Strategist at Zendesk, a customer service software company. At Zendesk, she spearheaded various initiatives that led to significant business growth, including the launch of the Zendesk for Startups program. With a knack for identifying the next big thing in tech, Kimmel eventually transitioned to angel investing before founding WorkLife Ventures. The fund has invested in a wide array of startups like Webflow, Voiceflow, and Tandem, several of which have gone on to raise substantial follow-on funding or achieve notable exits.

Collaboration lies at the heart of Kimmel’s professional journey. She has frequently engaged with influential figures in the technology and venture capital sectors. Kimmel has worked closely with Harry Stebbings, the founder of The Twenty Minute VC podcast, and Sahil Lavingia, the founder of Gumroad, to discuss topics like the future of work and the challenges faced by early-stage startups. In addition, she has also collaborated with leaders like Jeff Morris Jr., the founder of Chapter One Ventures; Garry Tan, the managing partner of Initialized Capital; and Arlan Hamilton, the founder of Backstage Capital, among others. These collaborations often take the form of podcast interviews, panel discussions, and co-investments in promising startups. Brianne Kimmel was also included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.