CATHERINE ULRICH

Catherine Ulrich is a distinguished Venture Partner at FirstMark Capital, a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City. Her role is pivotal in strengthening FirstMark's portfolio and identifying promising new ventures, drawing upon a rich career marked by significant leadership positions in product and operations within the technology and digital media sectors.

At FirstMark Capital, Catherine leverages her deep operational experience to provide strategic guidance to portfolio companies. She works closely with founders and executive teams, offering invaluable insights on product strategy, market fit, user acquisition, and scaling operations. Her expertise is particularly beneficial for companies navigating the complexities of rapid growth and product innovation, ensuring they build robust, market-leading solutions. Beyond advising, Catherine is instrumental in sourcing new investment opportunities for FirstMark, identifying companies that align with the firm's focus on transformative technology and strong leadership.

Before joining FirstMark Capital, Catherine Ulrich built an impressive career as a product visionary and operational leader. She served as the Chief Product Officer at Shutterstock, a global provider of stock photography, footage, and music, where she was responsible for the company's product strategy and development across its diverse offerings. Prior to Shutterstock, she held the role of Chief Product Officer at The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones, overseeing digital product initiatives for one of the world's most respected financial news organizations. Her earlier career also includes significant tenures as VP of Product at Everyday Health and various roles at IAC, a prominent internet and media company. This extensive background in building and scaling digital products across various industries gives her a unique perspective on what it takes for startups to succeed.

Catherine's investment focus areas at FirstMark Capital naturally align with her operational strengths. She is keenly interested in B2B SaaS, consumer technology, digital media, marketplaces, and companies that demonstrate strong product-led growth potential. Her ability to understand complex product roadmaps and market dynamics makes her an invaluable asset to FirstMark's investment thesis, particularly in identifying companies poised for significant disruption and long-term value creation. While specific individual investments she has led are often part of FirstMark's broader portfolio strategy, her influence is felt across many of the firm's successful ventures through her advisory capacity and strategic input.

Her commitment to fostering innovation and guiding the next generation of technology leaders makes Catherine Ulrich a key figure in the venture capital landscape, contributing significantly to FirstMark Capital's continued success in backing groundbreaking companies.