About us
Founder First Investors.
We offer more efficient ways to fund early stage businesses by investing both debt and equity.
We have been investing in venture capital for over 30 years. From the boom in the late 90s to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis, the run up in the 2010s, and now a post COVID environment, we have seen venture capital through peaks, valleys, and many cycles of disruption. Throughout this journey, we have had the privilege to partner with some incredible entrepreneurs. Our key learnings from these relationships and years of experience are the ethos of Top Corner Capital.
Financing should never be one-size fits all, but that does not mean it can't be simple and transparent. We believe in partnering with founders to optimize their capital needs either through debt and or equity. Early stage businesses have traditionally been underserved when it comes to the different forms of financing they can access. Why not offer more tailored financing solutions for founders when dilution has the greatest impact at the earliest stages? Our genesis was born out of this question and is the reason we are laser focused on early stage investing.
Get to know
Top Corner.
After many years working in the venture capital ecosystem, we discovered a relatively untapped market for emerging companies looking to pair equity with less-dilutive financing while retaining the same, hands-on support from traditional venture investors.
We are early stage technology investors. We look at companies across the spectrum -- with special expertise in enterprise, consumer and healthcare. Each of our companies gets our full attention and equal support -- we don’t play favorites.
We partner with Seed and Series A stage companies to allow them to grow faster and increase their chances of raising their next round.
Flexible Capital. Thoughtful Partners. Patient Investors. Your Biggest Champion.
Meet the team.
The Top Corner Capital team.
We are experienced investors, having invested across venture for 30+ years. We strive to be your go-to partner in helping you grow your North Star metric and achieving your key milestones.
Patrick Lee
Founder, Managing Partner
Patrick Lee
Founder, Managing partner
Patrick's career as a venture capital investor spans 30 years: 10 years as an equity investor and 20 years as a venture debt and equity investor. Patrick started his career in the valley with Hambrecht & Quist, followed by JP Morgan Partners, Pinnacle Ventures and WTI. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School, and an undergraduate degree with honors from Queen's University, Canada.
Henry Hollen
Senior Associate
Henry Hollen
Senior Associate
Prior to Top Corner, Henry worked in Private Equity as a Senior Associate at the Kingfish Group and PE consulting at BCG, specializing in investment execution, buy and sell-side diligence, sector exploration / thesis development, and fund strategy. Henry holds a BA in International Relations with a concentration in National Security and a minor in Entrepreneurship from Tufts University, where he was a member of the varsity lacrosse team.
Kirsten Edwards, CFA
Chief Operating Officer
Kirsten Edwards, CFA
Chief Operating Officer
Kirsten served as Chief Financial Officer of InsideTrack, which she led through multiple rounds of funding, a large scale merger and a transition to remote work. Previously, Kirsten spent over a decade in equity research at full service investment banks. Kirsten has a BAS In Psychology from Colgate University and is a Charter Financial Analyst charter holder.
Lars Ahlstrom
Chief Financial Officer
Lars Ahlstrom
Chief Financial Officer
Lars brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in venture capital and private equity. He previously spent eight years as CFO and Operating Partner at Mainsail Partners and has also worked with leading firms like Golden Gate Capital and Storm Ventures. He has a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA Graduate School of Business.
Catherine Bohutinsky Lee
Venture Partner
Catherine Bohutinsky Lee
Venture Partner
Catherine is an entrepreneur and investor focused on Real Estate Tech, FemTech and other early stage technology companies. She started her career as an engineer, followed by strategy consulting at Bain and Company, where she worked in their private equity practice. She then worked in private equity and investments at Seaver Kent & Company, Stadium Capital Management and Sterling Stamos. Most recently, Catherine founded several real estate investment funds and a market leading real estate brokerage firm in the Bay Area. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master’s degree in engineering from M.I.T. and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Kansas.
Advisory committee.
Gerald Risk
Alex Seaver
