Venture capital and diversity investing by Nicole DeTommaso

Nicole DeTommaso is a Senior Associate at Harlem Capital, where she became the first intern to source a deal that secured firm investment. Since joining full-time in 2019, she has sourced more than 15 early-stage transactions across fintech, consumer, and Web3. Recognition as part of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Class of 2025 confirmed her impact in diversifying venture flows. DeTommaso’s publications on founder and investor demographics, including the Diverse Founders in Web3 report, have been cited in more than 200 industry articles and used by accelerators across the US and Europe.

Prior work at RBC Capital Markets provided grounding in equity research and deal structuring. Annual income falls in the mid-six-figure USD range, supported by salary and carried interest. Public speaking appearances on venture equity and digital inclusion reached 400+ audiences in 2024 alone. With a growing social media community of more than 20,000 followers, DeTommaso has become a key voice at the intersection of capital, diversity, and emerging technology.

  • Daria Chernytska
  • 08.10.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Investors must learn to promote their portfolios
Nicole DeTommaso highlights the importance for investors to effectively communicate about their own positions. She observes that in the venture capital industry, many professionals excel at ...
  • Ksenia Gerey
  • 06.10.2026
Instinct closes $1 billion Series C with 9 employees, Nicole DeTommaso reveals
Nicole DeTommaso reports that Instinct has raised $1 billion in Series C funding, reaching a $10 billion valuation while employing fewer than 10 people. DeTommaso examined the backgrounds of the ...
  • Igor Krasulya
  • 06.10.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Venture investors focus on shiny objects over real value
Nicole DeTommaso observes that venture investment currently revolves around two strategies: chasing the latest trends or sticking to fundamental value opportunities. She notes that the market ...
  • Mykhailo Ihnatenko
  • 03.10.2026
Recognizing large upside can outweigh risks, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso emphasizes that the most difficult aspect of venture investing is not identifying potential reasons for a startup’s failure. According to DeTommaso, finding faults or risks is ...
  • Eugene Komchuk
  • 02.10.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Venture capital success often comes from rare high-impact investments
Nicole DeTommaso notes that success in venture capital does not require a high rate of correct decisions. Even if the majority of investments do not perform well, achieving outstanding results ...
  • Yaroslav Dmytrenko
  • 28.09.2026
Most people misunderstand venture capital fund flows, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso addresses a common knowledge gap in venture capital interviews, stating that 99% of candidates struggle to explain how money truly flows through a venture fund. She lays out the ...
  • Eugene Komchuk
  • 27.09.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Building relationships is key for future VC fund managers
Nicole DeTommaso addresses a common aspiration among her peers: the desire to raise their own VC fund in the future. She shares that one of the biggest misconceptions is that fundraising begins ...
  • Mykhailo Ihnatenko
  • 26.09.2026
Investment banking role includes financial modeling and valuation work, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso questions why nearly every venture capital job lists investment banking as a preferred qualification. She shares her experience, noting that after spending 4 years in banking, ...
  • Mykhailo Ihnatenko
  • 24.09.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: VC firms need campus sourcing strategies for long term success
Nicole DeTommaso argues that long term success for venture capital firms requires implementing a campus sourcing strategy. She observes that while such an approach may not align with the current ...
  • Pavlo Kot
  • 21.09.2026
Founder equity falls significantly after multiple funding rounds, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso highlights the decline in founder ownership percentages as companies progress through funding rounds. According to DeTommaso, founders typically retain 56 percent ownership ...
  • Yulia Slavina
  • 14.09.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Venture market dynamics push non-megafunds to seek founders earlier
Nicole DeTommaso addresses the challenges faced by non-megafund general partners in the current venture capital landscape. She observes that with today's market trends favoring megafunds managing ...
  • Mykhailo Ihnatenko
  • 13.09.2026
Venture capital is prioritizing fast mark ups over LP interests, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso raises concerns over the current state of venture capital, observing that much of the sector is now dedicated to securing quick mark ups rather than creating long-term value for ...
  • Pavlo Kot
  • 10.09.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Relationship building is key to proprietary deal flow
Nicole DeTommaso highlights that while many investors are eager for proprietary deal flow, only a minority are willing to invest in building relationships with talented individuals years before ...
  • Pavlo Kot
  • 03.09.2026
VC success does not guarantee investment, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso points out that venture capital investors often decline to invest in companies that they believe will ultimately succeed. She suggests that determining whether a company will ...
  • Oleg Tkachenko
  • 26.08.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Multiple firms seek investment and tech associates
Nicole DeTommaso shares that Nexus Bay, Founders Factory, Rhapsody Venture Partners, and Earth Fund are all hiring for investment and tech-related positions. The openings include roles such as ...
  • Andreas Kristo
  • 20.08.2026
Proprietary deal flow rarely exists in venture capital, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso argues that proprietary deal flow is largely a myth in venture capital. Most so-called proprietary opportunities, she claims, are simply consensus deals that an investor hears ...
  • Olga Shendetskaya
  • 16.08.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Having strong opinions crucial for venture capital success
Nicole DeTommaso discusses the importance of opinions over exhaustive knowledge for those aiming to break into venture capital. She explains that while teaching someone to build a market map is ...
  • Andreas Kristo
  • 13.08.2026
Venture firms seek investors and executives, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso shares that several venture capital firms are currently hiring for key positions. Compound VC is seeking investors, Cowboy Ventures is looking for a chief of staff, and InvestX is ...
  • Yulia Slavina
  • 11.08.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Fundraising founders should engage VCs every few minutes during pitches
Nicole DeTommaso advises founders seeking fundraising to actively engage venture capitalists every 3–4 minutes during their pitch sessions. She cautions that speaking for long periods without ...
  • Parshwa Turakhiya
  • 09.08.2026
Associate and senior associate pay varies widely in venture roles, Nicole DeTommaso notes
Nicole DeTommaso highlights that compensation for associates and senior associates in venture capital spans from $153k to $238k per year. This significant pay range is attributed to how venture ...
  • Ashutosh Sureka
  • 09.08.2026
Nicole DeTommaso: Tips for aspiring VCs on interviews and networking in 2026
Nicole DeTommaso shares resources and advice for aspiring venture capitalists, including recommended books, podcasts, and guides. The post also outlines three unique paths into the VC industry, ...