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About
Danielle Lay is a Partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) based in New York, where she invests in generational AI companies across both the consumer and enterprise sectors. Her portfolio includes investments in leading companies such as Beehiiv, Patreon, Goody, Fizz, and Workera.ai, with a focus on products that inspire deep customer engagement and address social connectivity and commerce infrastructure needs.
Danielle's investment expertise centers on AI-driven platforms, consumer social, and commerce infrastructure, with particular attention to companies targeting Gen Z and tackling fundamental issues in digital connection, financial health, and next-generation online experiences. Before joining NEA in 2017, Danielle worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs covering fintech, bringing a strong analytical and financial background to her venture investing career.
She holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Northwestern University, with minors in Chinese and Business, and completed her secondary education at Chinese International School in Hong Kong. Danielle is recognized for her hands-on approach to founder relationships and her curiosity-driven perspective on innovation, making notable contributions to NEA's investment strategy in technology and consumer sectors.
Career History
| Organization | Role | Date Range | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Enterprise Associates (NEA) | Partner | Apr 2023 to Present | beehiiv - newsletter and email software (board director)
Patreon - creator community platform (board observer)
Bluefish ai - AI marketing suite
Workera ai - agentic skills intelligence for enterprise ... |
| New Enterprise Associates (NEA) | Principal | Oct 2019 to Apr 2023 | — |
| New Enterprise Associates (NEA) | Investor | Sep 2017 to Oct 2019 | — |
| Northwestern University | NUSeeds Alumni Investment Committee | Apr 2019 to Jan 2022 | — |
| Goldman Sachs | Investment Banking Analyst | Jun 2016 to Sep 2017 | — |
| DesignWorks | Founder and CEO | Jan 2013 to Dec 2016 | Graphic design and web development agency |
| The Economist | Analyst | Jan 2013 to Dec 2013 | — |
Education
Northwestern University
Undergraduate, Economics major; Chinese minor; Business minor
Chinese International School | 漢基國際學校
Hong Kong
Skills & Expertise
Others at Nea Management Company, LLC (40)
| Name | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Partner | Miami, FL , United States | |
| Partner | CA , United States | |
| Principal | New York, NY , United States | |
| Partner | Bethesda, MD , United States | |
| Principal | New York, NY , United States | |
| Senior Investment Manager | Menlo Park, CA , United States | |
| Partner | New York, NY , United States | |
| General Partner | Jupiter, FL , United States | |
| Chairman, CEO and Chief Investment Officer | United States | |
| Partner | Philadelphia, PA , United States |