Going Faster with Mars and JeanClaude
by Ross and Chauncey
Today, we are thrilled to announce two exciting team updates at XYZ, JeanClaude Dorsainvil has been promoted to the role of Associate and Mars Garza will embark on her new role as an Entrepreneur in Residence.
Both Mars and JeanClaude joined XYZ in August of 2020 as Analysts in the depths of the pandemic before we’d even built a website. They both quickly became integral to our work here, moving with both velocity in learning and a bias towards action. They’ve joined countless pitches and company working sessions, honing the skills necessary to win the right to work with founders and support them in the long journey of company building. In their time at XYZ, they’ve perfected investment memo writing, gone the extra mile on due diligence, and searched their networks for the perfect customer introduction or engineering hire.
As an Associate, JeanClaude will take on the added responsibility of tapping into the many incredible networks he’s built in his years in the Bay Area, from his time at Dorm Room Fund, leading BLCK VC’s Breaking into Venture program, and building relationships with the next generation of investors. In this new role he will continue to evaluate investments and support XYZ portfolio companies but will also help us find the new founders to partner with. Founders gravitate towards JeanClaude — he’s rigorously insightful, a consumate network builder who authentically creates community around him, and goes above and beyond for founders and his teammates.
As an EIR, Mars will follow a similar playbook as our first EIR Olya Caliugnaia in working on developing a thesis in a particular sector to eventually start a new company. During her time at XYZ, Olya supported XYZ founders and explored ideas in fintech, ultimately starting Sanlo the trusted funding source for gaming and app creators. Over the past two years, Mars has gone deep with both of us in climate tech working closely with Evergrow (and a few other companies yet to be announced). She’s joined every climate tech pitch we’ve evaluated and built the necessary relationships in the sector to begin her pursuit of keeping the planet from burning. Mars brings an insatiable curiosity and tenacious passion to every challenge she embarks on, and we know she will build a massive and durable company.
We couldn’t be more excited for the both of them as they each take the next steps in their careers in investing and building. They’ve made foundational contributions to our work here at XYZ, and we know will continue to do so in these new roles.
-- Ross and Chauncey
