Helping You Succeed at Every Stage
Strut delivers unparalleled service and sets the standard for operational excellence in the venture capital industry.
Kristen Ostro
Founder and CEO
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 VC, 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 VIA (fka Let’s Talk Ops), a community of 250 VC operations professionals powering some of the world’s most successful venture firms from behind the scenes.
Nicole Fuller
Chief Operating Officer
Nicole Fuller is Chief Operating Officer at Strut Consulting, where she oversees the firm’s internal operations, finances, people strategy, and commitment to exceptional client service. With over a decade of experience in the alternative asset industry, Nicole plays a critical role in building and scaling Strut’s infrastructure to support long-term growth for both the firm and its clients.
Nicole has helped hundreds of General Partners establish and grow their firms, drawing on deep expertise in fund structures, venture capital operations, and the broader emerging manager ecosystem. Today, she focuses on firm building at scale, ensuring Strut’s internal systems and service delivery evolve alongside the needs of its clients.
Before joining Strut, Nicole helped scale Aduro Advisors during a period of rapid growth, leading client onboarding and business development efforts. Prior to her time at Aduro, Nicole got started in the alternative asset space by supporting multiple hedge fund businesses across operations, finance, and compliance. A Southern California native, she holds a B.A. in Economics from San Diego State University.
Our Team Members
Lauren McDavid Victor
Director of FinanceAs a Director of Finance at Strut Consulting, Lauren is a trusted partner to venture capital firms, bringing over a decade of experience in finance to help clients build strong operational foundations and drive financial excellence. She specializes in supporting emerging managers as they scale, guiding them with a steady hand and strategic insight. Lauren began her career in the high-stakes environment of Big 4 public accounting, leading audits for Fortune 100 tech, SaaS, and media companies. She then made the leap into the private sector, bringing her skills to a software startup before fully immersing herself in venture capital. At Aduro Advisors, she spent nearly six years overseeing fund administration and back office operations for emerging VC funds. A proud alumna of the University of Colorado, Lauren holds a BS in Economics and an MS in Accounting.
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Vienna Poiesz
Director of Investor RelationsAs Director of Investor Relations at Strut Consulting, Vienna Poiesz helps venture capital firms to build stronger relationships with investors and achieve successful fundraising outcomes. As the Director of Investor Relations at Strut Consulting, she partners with VCs to refine capital-raising strategies, fostering trust and alignment with limited partners (LPs). At Energy Impact Partners, she was instrumental in scaling the firm from $50 million to $2 billion in assets under management, driving investor engagement to support the launch of eight funds. At the Data Community Fund, she launched Fund II, successfully raising $50 million to invest in data technologies. With a proven track record at the intersection of capital formation and investor engagement, Vienna’s ability to align investor priorities with innovative opportunities has consistently delivered exceptional results. She has honors degrees from UC Berkeley and Oxford University.
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Zosia Ulatowski
Director of OperationsAs Director of Operations at Strut Consulting, Zosia leads the charge in building and delivering high-caliber, institutional-grade operations covering everything from policies and procedures to investor relations and governance. She has partnered with firms ranging from $25M to $500M AUM, supporting them through every stage - from inception and fundraising to launching their fourth, fifth, and sixth funds. Zosia thrives on transforming internal operations from functional to exceptional. Her team is known for its proactivity and ability to address challenges before they become distractions. With a strong problem-solving mindset, an unrelenting bias toward action, and a practical approach, Zosia effectively navigates complex operational hurdles, always working to make the work feel lighter, even when the stakes are high. Prior to joining Strut, Zosia spent over five years at Cornerstone Venture Partners, where she managed fund operations, investor relations, and portfolio support. Before transitioning to VC, she worked in non-profit and venture-backed startups, serving as the foundation for her approach to project management and customer success.
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Elizabeth Medina
Senior Finance ManagerElizabeth is a Senior Finance Manager who brings extensive expertise in strategic financial operations, supporting venture capital firms with a focus on long-term success. She provides financial support, leads quarterly reporting efforts, and plays a critical role in enabling seamless operations across firms. Elizabeth oversees the activities of the fund administrator, assists with vendor management, and supports deal flow by reviewing investment materials to ensure efficient and well-informed execution. She helps position firms for long-term success by building processes that stand up to audit, compliance, and growth. Previously, Elizabeth served as an Assistant Controller at Aduro Advisors, where she delivered high-impact financial services to a diverse set of VC clients and helped them navigate complex operational challenges. She began her career at SEI Investments, supporting hedge funds and private equity clients with core financial services. Elizabeth is known for driving operational excellence and reducing friction in financial workflows that support firm-wide efficiency and growth.
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Deborah Meredith
Operations ManagerAs Senior Operations Manager at Strut Consulting, Deborah transforms complexity into strategic advantage, enabling GPs to focus on what matters most: investing and portfolio company growth. She builds the infrastructure that scales investment strategies and maximizes fund performance. Deborah brings proven expertise in venture capital, having served as COO of Fenway Summer, a DC-based early-stage fintech venture firm, where she architected systems across multiple funds managing $200M in AUM. Her frameworks directly supported investment decision-making and portfolio company value creation initiatives. Her track record includes driving excellence during high-growth phases, notably at Fundrise where she optimized platform integrations and enhanced investor experience during a period of 100% year-over-year growth. At consulting firm LDR Advisory Partners, she developed comprehensive strategies and managed firmwide execution. Deborah's unique combination of venture expertise and strategic consulting experience positions her to deliver both seamless day-to-day execution and high-level insights, which drive measurable results for clients and stakeholders.
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Shelby Arnett
Finance ManagerShelby is a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Before joining Strut, she built her expertise in fund administration with a focus on newly-established funds and began her career as an auditor, gaining extensive experience in financial reporting and the venture capital landscape. Recognized for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach, Shelby brings a proactive, solutions-driven attitude to every challenge. Her industry knowledge and team-oriented spirit make her a valuable asset to the organization. She holds a bachelor's degree from The Ohio State University.
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Kasper Ciszek
Finance ManagerKasper is a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, based in Miami, Florida. He brings experience across venture capital and private credit fund accounting, with a background spanning fund administration, financial reporting, and audit. Prior to joining Strut, Kasper served as a Fund Accountant on the Private Credit team at PineBridge Investments. Before that, he spent over two years at Aduro Advisors, rising from Staff Accountant to Fund Accounting Manager, where he oversaw financial statements and client relationships for venture capital funds, SPVs, and GP entities. Kasper holds a degree in Finance from Florida International University.
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Grace Coletta
Investor Relations ManagerGrace Coletta is an Investor Relations Manager at Strut Consulting, where she helps clients strengthen LP relationships through strategic communications, reporting, and investor engagement. She has spent her career building trusted connections between venture firms and their investor communities. Prior to joining Strut, Grace worked at R7 Partners, where she led investor relations and cross-functional operations for a multi-fund platform, managing a wide network of LP relationships and creating systems that brought clarity and consistency to investor communications.
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Amanda DiPietro
Operations ManagerAmanda is an Operations Manager at Strut Consulting, where she supports VC funds end to end, bringing clarity, consistency, and a collaborative approach to complex fund work. As a day-to-day point of contact for clients, she helps firms with fund accounting, investor reporting, and the operational details that keep a fund running smoothly. Before Strut, Amanda served as Senior Fund Manager at Meritage Accounting Group, where she oversaw fund accounting and reporting for venture capital clients, and as Principal Consultant at South Wake Capital. She began her career in tax at top 20 firms CBIZ MHM and Wipfli LLP, building a strong technical foundation before transitioning into accounting and advisory work, where she discovered a passion for driving meaningful impact and long-term client success.
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Braden Huff
Finance ManagerBraden is a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, based in Denver, Colorado. Prior to joining Strut, Braden worked in fund administration and began his career as an auditor, where he developed a keen eye for detail and a strategic approach to financial analysis. Known for his ability to tackle tactical projects and drive results, Braden excels in turning complex financial challenges into actionable solutions. He holds an undergraduate and Master's degree from the University of Denver, where he laid the foundation for their expertise in finance and accounting.
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Alexandra MacDonald
Events ManagerAlexandra is a corporate event professional and Events Manager at Strut Consulting. She brings over a decade of experience producing highly curated, seamlessly executed events. Alex began her career at Silicon Valley Bank, where she spent more than eight years collaborating with VC and startup-focused teams to deliver conferences, summits, networking events, panels, hospitality gatherings, virtual programs, and more—all designed to foster meaningful connections across the innovation economy. Now specializing in VC-style events, Alex is excited to partner with Strut’s clients to continue crafting impactful experiences that strengthen the relationships at the heart of the tech ecosystem. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and now based in New York City, she brings deep knowledge of both coasts—two of the primary hubs of the venture capital world.
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Ellie Maguire
Investor Relations ManagerEllie Maguire is an Investor Relations Manager at Strut Consulting, where she helps clients strengthen LP relationships by managing investor communications, crafting engaging content, and supporting key investor events. She has spent her career building and positioning investor and donor networks across both the private and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining Strut, Ellie served as Senior Investor Relations Manager at Meritage Accounting Group, a venture fund administration firm, where she directed the IR team's work and supported General Partners and their global LP networks from fund inception through wind-down. Earlier in her career, she held investor relations roles at Renew Capital and the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, led Accelerate Colorado as Executive Director, and directed international economic development efforts at the Dallas Regional Chamber. She holds three degrees from Southern Methodist University.
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Cassidy McHose
Finance ManagerCassidy serves as a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, where she supports clients across fund accounting and financial operations. A Colorado native, she began her career in Deloitte’s audit practice working with commercial banking clients before transitioning into the venture capital industry. Before joining Strut, Cassidy spent four years at Aduro Advisors, where she managed fund administration and reporting for a range of VC clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Management from Chapman University.
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Peyton Murray
Investor Relations ManagerPeyton Murray is an Investor Relations Manager at Strut Consulting, where she helps clients achieve their fundraising goals by managing LP communications, crafting engaging content, and providing insight and support for key investor events. She has spent her career helping venture capital firms refine their messaging and engage stakeholders. Prior to joining Strut, Peyton worked on the Investor Relations team at Rethink Capital Partners, where she oversaw marketing materials, coordinated events, and supported fundraising across the firm’s venture capital and real estate strategies. Peyton began her career at American Family Insurance, where she was responsible for marketing, social media, and storytelling for the company’s corporate venture impact fund and nonprofit partnerships. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is currently based in New York City.
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Dominic Ortegra
Finance ManagerDominic is a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, based in Denver, Colorado. With over a decade of experience in fund accounting and financial reporting, he has built deep expertise across venture capital, private equity, and hedge fund environments. Before joining Strut, Dominic held senior fund accounting roles at Carta, Decile Group, and Standish Management, and previously spent over two years at Aduro Advisors managing fund accounting operations for venture capital clients.
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Luke Tank
Finance ManagerLuke Tank is a Finance Manager at Strut Consulting, based in El Dorado Hills, California. A CPA with experience across the hedge fund and venture capital industries, as well as in tax and personal finance, he was previously a founding member of the fund admin team at Hanover Park, where he served as Controller and helped build the department as its first accounting hire. Before that, Luke worked as a Fund Accounting Associate at MG Stover.
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Angela Unubun
Operations ManagerAngela is the Operations Manager at Strut Consulting, where she partners directly with clients to streamline fund operations and implement best practices. As a day-to-day point of contact, she supports firms with investment onboarding, service provider coordination, and scalable operational workflows. Before Strut, Angela worked in investment operations at Cambridge Associates, where she developed a strong foundation in fund processes and institutional workflows. She is a graduate of Wellesley College, where she studied Women’s and Gender Studies and Economics.
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