Fireside chat with Kelly LaPierre

Kelly LaPierre is Head of Founder Network for American Family Insurance and Lead of GoHackScale, a corporate startup studio initiative that drives structured entrepreneurial and product acceleration by pairing small teams of experienced entrepreneurs with the hardest problems facing the business. Additionally Kelly is Partner and Co-founder of Venture Catalysts, a nonprofit focused on building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Detroit through events like Detroit Startup Week (12,000+ attendees), AfroTech (largest black tech conference), and Backstage Capital Accelerator (investing in underrepresented, or rather underestimated, founders). Previously she founded the Desai Accelerator, an intensive program of funding, mentorship, and resources to help early stage ventures scale and succeed. As Managing Director, I recruited and managed investments in 11 tech enabled businesses, including MySwimPro (named 2016 Apple Watch App of the Year), Ash & Erie (featured on Shark Tank) and Companion (recognized by the Today Show, Good Morning America). Over the past few years, she has worked with a variety of startup companies at the Boston-based investment fund TechStars and at the early stage venture capital fund Invest Detroit Ventures. In 2015 she was named Crains Detroit Business "40 under 40" and “25 Women in Tech.” She has a BA from University of Michigan and her MBA from Harvard Business School.