Paige Finn DohertyFounding Partner, Behind Genius · Founding Partner at Behind Genius Ventures

how Heather Hartnett accidentally became a venture capitalist

22 Aug 2022 · 1 min

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In this interview segment, Heather Hartnett explains her unconventional journey into venture capital. She recounts meeting her future business partner Joe Marchese about twelve years ago, which sparked a shared vision for discovering founders and creating value through a network. Together they launched Human Ventures in New York in 2015, initially focused on building companies rather than running a fund. As those companies gained traction, the need for additional financing grew, leading Human Ventures to evolve into a venture fund. Hartnett emphasizes that founders don’t set out to build for its own sake; the act of building naturally leads to opportunities, contrasting this organic process with the mindset of seeking a traditional job.

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I had a very unique background, and people say they have a unique background to get into venture, but really I come from completely different roots. And so I think it's kind of born out of opportunity when you found something. And I was fortunate enough to meet my business partner, Joe Marchese, about 12 years ago, and we really hit it off in a lot of our concepts on how we're finding founders, what resonated with us, how to build a network, how to build value for your network. And so it was a no-brainer to start Human Ventures in 2015 in New York. And, you know, I didn't even set out to build a venture fund at that point in time. We were building companies. And then as the companies started to work and started to get some traction, we needed to have more financing. And it's constantly— I think any founder or builder, you're not setting out to build something for the sake of building it. It kind of happens to you. And I think that's the difference between trying to get a job and starting something. Absolutely. I love that perspective.