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Hayley Barna is a Partner at First Round Capital based in New York, where she leads the firm's local office and focuses on seed-stage investments. Before transitioning to venture capital in 2016, she co-founded and served as Co-CEO of Birchbox, scaling the beauty subscription service to over one million subscribers and $180 million in annual revenue. Her earlier career included strategy and product management roles at Bain & Company, Christie's, and Amazon, prior to earning her MBA from Harvard Business School. As an investor, Barna has backed more than fifteen companies that subsequently raised $1.4 billion in follow-on capital, including Mirror, which Lululemon acquired for $500 million, and Caper AI, which Instacart purchased for $350 million. Today, her primary focus remains on supporting early-stage founders across the consumer technology, e-commerce, digital health, and marketplace sectors.
Hayley Barna stands out as a prominent Partner at First Round Capital, one of the most respected early-stage venture capital firms in the industry. Her journey into venture capital is particularly compelling, rooted in her firsthand experience as a successful entrepreneur. Barna joined First Round Capital in 2015, bringing a unique founder-first perspective to her investment strategy.
Before transitioning to the investment world, Hayley Barna co-founded Birchbox in 2010. Birchbox revolutionized the beauty industry with its innovative subscription box model, delivering personalized product samples directly to consumers. As co-CEO, Barna played a pivotal role in scaling the company, navigating the complexities of product development, marketing, and operations. This deep operational background provides her with invaluable empathy and strategic insight when evaluating and advising early-stage companies. Her time at Birchbox equipped her with a profound understanding of consumer behavior, brand building, and the challenges inherent in scaling a startup from conception to market leader.
At First Round Capital, Hayley Barna's investment focus is broad yet strategic, primarily targeting seed and Series A rounds. She is particularly passionate about companies disrupting consumer technology, building vibrant marketplaces, and developing innovative SaaS solutions. Her portfolio often includes startups in areas such as fintech, healthcare technology, the future of work, and e-commerce, especially those with strong community elements or compelling brand narratives. Barna is known for her keen eye for product-market fit and her ability to identify founders with exceptional vision and execution capabilities.
Throughout her tenure at First Round, Hayley Barna has backed numerous successful ventures. Notable investments include Mirror, the interactive home gym company acquired by Lululemon, and Kin Insurance, a modern insurance carrier leveraging technology to simplify home insurance. She also supported Modern Fertility, a women's health company acquired by Ro, and Frame.io, a video collaboration platform acquired by Adobe. These investments underscore her ability to spot transformative businesses and contribute significantly to their growth. Hayley Barna is not just a capital provider; she is a hands-on advisor, deeply committed to helping founders navigate the challenges of building enduring companies. Her strategic guidance and extensive network make her a highly sought-after partner for ambitious entrepreneurs.
Hayley Barna is a Partner at First Round Capital, a leading early-stage venture capital firm. She is also known as the co-founder of Birchbox, a pioneering beauty subscription service, before transitioning into venture capital.
Hayley Barna primarily invests in early-stage technology companies across various sectors, including consumer tech, marketplaces, SaaS, fintech, healthcare technology, and the future of work. She looks for innovative startups with strong product-market fit.
Hayley Barna works as a Partner at First Round Capital, a prominent venture capital firm headquartered in San Francisco and New York.
