Kapor Capital’s managing partner, Ulili Onovakpuri, announced yesterday that she is stepping down from her position at the firm.
Onovakpuri joined Kapor Capital over a decade ago as a principal, steadily working her way up the ranks to eventually become managing partner. Alongside Brian Dixon, she took the reins from the firm’s original co-founders, Mitch Kapor and Freada Kapor Klein.
Reflecting on her years at the firm, Onovakpuri recalled co-raising a notable $126 million fund and backing over 70 startups during her tenure. “I’ll truly miss it,” she wrote in her farewell statement.
While she emphasized that this move isn’t a permanent departure from the world of venture capital or from supporting innovative founders, Onovakpuri described her current decision as a “purposeful pause.” At present, she disclosed no specific future plans, though she implied her eventual return to investing is likely, adding humorously that, at least for now, her inbox is done receiving the familiar follow-ups from founders wondering if she’s reviewed their pitch decks yet.
