The full article → https://www.venturecapitaljournal.com/venture-capitals-2026-rising-stars-a-g/
Venture Capital Journal's annual 40 Under 40 Rising Stars list highlights the next generation of leaders shaping the VC industry — and Strut Consulting is represented. The list spans principals, partners, and operators driving impact across early-stage investing, fund operations, and firm building.
Kristen is the Founder & CEO of Strut Consulting and a seasoned leader in the venture capital industry. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the operational foundations of both first-time funds and some of the industry’s most iconic firms. Kristen began her venture career at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Silicon Valley’s largest and most established venture firm, where she held key roles across administration, operations, and marketing. From there, she went on to lead operations during the formative years at Homebrew, Xfund, and Zetta, bringing a strategic and hands-on approach to scaling firm infrastructure.
Her expertise spans the full lifecycle of venture firms, from inception through fund maturation, and she’s worked closely with top-tier LPs, including institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and leading family offices.
Kristen is also the Founder and Managing Director of Let’s Talk Ops, a community of over 250 VC operations professionals powering many of the world’s most successful venture firms from behind the scenes.
