Union Square Ventures (USV), a venture capital firm based in New York City, invests at the edge of large markets being transformed by technological and societal pressures. They have an exceptionally involved team across their network, investment, and talent personnel.
USV has a generalist investing strategy which results in a diverse portfolio of companies across industries, geographies, stages, and leadership teams. They know Bolster’s executive recruiting team and extensive network can provide support across the portfolio in placing quality full-time, on-demand, or board talent.
The partnership is firm-wide, with engagement spread equally among investing partners that serve on portfolio boards--such as Fred Willson, Albert Wenger, and Andy Weissman--their head of talent, Jess Oynick, and Matt Cynamon and Lauren Young on the network team. This allows USV to ensure that every part of the firm has a relationship with Bolster and can quickly tap them for executive talent needs.
The full USV team engages Bolster to meet portfolio CEOs and executives where they’re at, offering a consultative experience across full-time, board, or on-demand executive talent needs.
Partnership has included in-person, virtual, and bespoke initiatives to add value to the USV network and broader startup ecosystem around supporting companies with executive and board talent at scale.
Bolster has supported the USV portfolio across more than 45 engagements, including placing 35+ executives across portfolio companies and providing consulting services such as CEO and Board 360s.
As with most leading VCs and scaling executives, speed to hire is paramount for both USV and their CEOs. On average, we’ve successfully closed searches for full-time executives in just 68 days, well under the industry average. This ensures that USV’s portfolios don’t fall behind due to open executive roles, and that the companies are able to quickly onboard the best talent to help them scale.
“USV has experienced incredible leverage from the team and expertise at Bolster to fill executive and board positions in the portfolio. I especially appreciate their consultative approach to executive search including things like CEO, Exec, and Board 360s versus a static one-size-fits-all model.”