Carolina Mendoza

Ed Zimmerman

Betsy Zimmerman

First Close Partners

Founded in 2020, First Close Partners is a fund of funds that focuses on investing in venture capital funds owned and led by underrepresented managers across the globe. This includes people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and members of other groups that have been historically underrepresented, especially (but not solely) in the venture capital industry. The firm is committed to investment in ecosystem-building with underrepresented founders and manager communities. The founding team has invested in 400 funds on four continents and more than 150 funds led by underrepresented or diverse teams. The firm was Co-founded by Ed and Betsy Zimmerman and Co-founder Carolina Mendoza. Ed Zimmerman co-founded & chairs the Tech Group at Lowenstein Sandler, LLP, where he’s been a growth company, startup and venture lawyer for 30 years. Ed had personally invested in more than 100 venture funds and more than 160 startups, predominantly in the U.S., Europe and Africa. Betsy Zimmerman was a partner at Grapearbor Ventures, which has invested in more than 125 startups and as an LP in over 100 venture capital and growth equity funds. Carolina Huaranca Mendoza began her venture investing career as a Principal at Kapor Capital, a fund which invested in companies such as Uber, Twilio, Promise, and CareerKarma. While at Kapor she also set the first formal investing strategy into diverse emerging managers.