Latest news with #AthenaCapital
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Athena Capital announces new board, headlined by Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn
Olympic gold-medalist and alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is no stranger to going downhill—but she's soon going to be focused on making investors' wealth climb. Supersonic air travel gets green light in U.S. after 50-year ban lifted Why you're catching the 'ick' so easily, according to science How to Watch George Clooney's Broadway play 'Good Night, and Good Luck' live for free Vonn is joining the newly formed advisory board at Athena Capital, an all-female venture capital and private equity firm. Isabelle Freidheim, the founder and managing partner of Athena Capital, says that she and Vonn have been acquainted for some time, as Freidheim had been involved with the U.S. Olympic Committee, and had met with her at numerous conferences over the years. 'I was always impressed with how genuine she is,' Freidheim says of Vonn. Accordingly, 'Bringing someone like Lindsey in, who is like-minded and mission-aligned, brings more enthusiasm to the firm.' As such, 'we're very excited to announce her joining our board.' Vonn is an active investor and businesswoman, but is best known for her exploits on the slopes, which include three Olympic medals, eight World Championships, and more. She is also planning a comeback for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Cortina, Italy. The comeback is notable as Vonn, now 40 years old, has recovered from a partial knee replacement as well. So, in addition to her board duties, she'll be giving the Olympics one last shot, but she's confident she can balance the two. 'Athena's mission is something that deeply resonates with me, so I was excited to get on board. When I commit to something, I do everything in my power to approach it to the absolute best of my ability. Even though the next year will be busy, I feel strongly about my role as a board member just as I do about my athletic career,' Vonn tells Fast Company. 'Competitive skiing is all about operating under pressure and being precise with your every move. It requires extensive knowledge and training to be successful in the sport. That's very similar to what venture capitalists do: evaluating potential, taking calculated risks, and trying to stay on top of everything you're doing. Both require a sharpness and tenacity, and I think a similar competitive mindset exists between the two.' With her interest and experience in the investment space, Freidheim says that having Vonn join the board made sense. 'Lindsey's been an investor for quite some time already, and is pretty astute. She has a high profile,' she says. Freidheim says that other members of the board will be announced one by one, on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, Vonn will focus on skiing—and trying to make some noise on the slopes in addition to the boardroom. 'I felt better skiing this past season than I did at the end of my career, and I am without pain for the first time in years,' she says. 'When I retired in 2019, it was of necessity. My body was broken beyond repair, so I knew it was a choice I had to make, but it wasn't fully on my terms. Competing in another Olympics in Cortina would feel full-circle.' This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter:
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Athena Capital announces new board, headlined by Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn
Olympic gold-medalist and alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is no stranger to going downhill—but she's soon going to be focused on making investors' wealth climb. Vonn is joining the newly formed advisory board at Athena Capital, an all-female venture capital and private equity firm. Isabelle Freidheim, the founder and managing partner of Athena Capital, says that she and Vonn have been acquainted for some time, as Freidheim had been involved with the U.S. Olympic Committee, and had met with her at numerous conferences over the years. 'I was always impressed with how genuine she is,' Freidheim says of Vonn. Accordingly, 'Bringing someone like Lindsey in, who is like-minded and mission-aligned, brings more enthusiasm to the firm.' As such, 'we're very excited to announce her joining our board.' Vonn is an active investor and businesswoman, but is best known for her exploits on the slopes, which include three Olympic medals, eight World Championships, and more. She is also planning a comeback for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Cortina, Italy. The comeback is notable as Vonn, now 40 years old, has recovered from a partial knee replacement as well. So, in addition to her board duties, she'll be giving the Olympics one last shot, but she's confident she can balance the two. 'Athena's mission is something that deeply resonates with me, so I was excited to get on board. When I commit to something, I do everything in my power to approach it to the absolute best of my ability. Even though the next year will be busy, I feel strongly about my role as a board member just as I do about my athletic career,' Vonn tells Fast Company. ' Competitive skiing is all about operating under pressure and being precise with your every move. It requires extensive knowledge and training to be successful in the sport. That's very similar to what venture capitalists do: evaluating potential, taking calculated risks, and trying to stay on top of everything you're doing. Both require a sharpness and tenacity, and I think a similar competitive mindset exists between the two.' With her interest and experience in the investment space, Freidheim says that having Vonn join the board made sense. 'Lindsey's been an investor for quite some time already, and is pretty astute. She has a high profile,' she says. Freidheim says that other members of the board will be announced one by one, on an ongoing basis. In the meantime, Vonn will focus on skiing—and trying to make some noise on the slopes in addition to the boardroom. 'I felt better skiing this past season than I did at the end of my career, and I am without pain for the first time in years,' she says. 'When I retired in 2019, it was of necessity. My body was broken beyond repair, so I knew it was a choice I had to make, but it wasn't fully on my terms. Competing in another Olympics in Cortina would feel full-circle.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Athena Capital Forms an Advisory Board and Announces Lindsey Vonn as a Board Member
Olympic skier and entrepreneur Lindsey Vonn to join the new board NEW YORK, June 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Athena Capital, a top funding partner for growth-stage, technology-enabled companies on the verge of public or M&A exits, today announced the formation of its advisory board. Lindsey Vonn, three-time Olympic medalist, eight-time world championship medalist, alpine skier, philanthropist and entrepreneur, will join the board and offer her strategic outlook. One of the most decorated athletes in winter sports history, Vonn has garnered three Olympic medals and eight world championship medals over the course of her career. Vonn is joining the Athena Capital advisory board because of a strong alignment between her personal brand, experiences, and the firm's mission. She has been a champion for female skiers, inspiring many young women to take up the traditionally male dominated sport. When she began an internship in venture capital, she noticed few women in that space as well. As she expanded and built upon her business pursuits, she made a conscious effort to champion female-led teams. "Athena Capital's no-frills approach to investing and deeply experienced team drew me to join the new advisory board" said Vonn. "I am eager to get started and contribute to a firm whose goals so closely correspond with my own." Athena Capital is forming an advisory board composed of diverse backgrounds to strengthen the offering, support portfolio companies, provide deep operating insights, and deliver investor relations and fund management expertise that goes beyond private equity and venture capital. While the Athena network is already extensive, the implementation of an advisory board will accelerate the firm's fundraising efforts and assist in reaching the firm's goals more efficiently. "We are thrilled to welcome Lindsey to the Athena Capital network," said Athena Capital Founder and Managing Partner Isabelle Freidheim. "The mindset that led to her preeminence as both a skier and entrepreneur is perfectly aligned and on par with our values as a firm." About Athena CapitalAthena Capital invests opportunistic equity in growth-stage, technology-enabled companies on the verge of an exit, either through a public exit or an M&A exit. Athena has built a returns-driven Council that sources, runs diligence, and supports their portfolio companies. The Athena Capital team, including the general partnership and the Athena Council, is comprised of former CEOs, Fortune 500 board members, growth stage investors, company founders, and career investors who have guided many companies through exits. To learn more, visit: View source version on Contacts Media:Avenue Zathena@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Athena Capital Forms an Advisory Board and Announces Lindsey Vonn as a Board Member
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Athena Capital, a top funding partner for growth-stage, technology-enabled companies on the verge of public or M&A exits, today announced the formation of its advisory board. Lindsey Vonn, three-time Olympic medalist, eight-time world championship medalist, alpine skier, philanthropist and entrepreneur, will join the board and offer her strategic outlook. One of the most decorated athletes in winter sports history, Vonn has garnered three Olympic medals and eight world championship medals over the course of her career. Vonn is joining the Athena Capital advisory board because of a strong alignment between her personal brand, experiences, and the firm's mission. She has been a champion for female skiers, inspiring many young women to take up the traditionally male dominated sport. When she began an internship in venture capital, she noticed few women in that space as well. As she expanded and built upon her business pursuits, she made a conscious effort to champion female-led teams. 'Athena Capital's no-frills approach to investing and deeply experienced team drew me to join the new advisory board' said Vonn. 'I am eager to get started and contribute to a firm whose goals so closely correspond with my own.' Athena Capital is forming an advisory board composed of diverse backgrounds to strengthen the offering, support portfolio companies, provide deep operating insights, and deliver investor relations and fund management expertise that goes beyond private equity and venture capital. While the Athena network is already extensive, the implementation of an advisory board will accelerate the firm's fundraising efforts and assist in reaching the firm's goals more efficiently. 'We are thrilled to welcome Lindsey to the Athena Capital network,' said Athena Capital Founder and Managing Partner Isabelle Freidheim. 'The mindset that led to her preeminence as both a skier and entrepreneur is perfectly aligned and on par with our values as a firm.' About Athena Capital Athena Capital invests opportunistic equity in growth-stage, technology-enabled companies on the verge of an exit, either through a public exit or an M&A exit. Athena has built a returns-driven Council that sources, runs diligence, and supports their portfolio companies. The Athena Capital team, including the general partnership and the Athena Council, is comprised of former CEOs, Fortune 500 board members, growth stage investors, company founders, and career investors who have guided many companies through exits. To learn more, visit:
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn joins advisory board of women-led Athena Capital
One of the most decorated athletes in Olympic history is bringing her focus on female representation to venture capital. Skier Lindsey Vonn has joined the advisory board of New York-based Athena Capital, a venture capital firm focused on growth-stage, technology-focused companies nearing public or private exits. The firm, which is set to announce the appointment on Friday, manages about US$6-billion and is composed entirely of women across its general partnership and advisory council. Ms. Vonn is one of the most successful alpine skiers in history, winning three Olympic medals – including gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games – along with 82 World Cup race victories and four overall World Cup titles. She retired in 2019 with the most World Cup wins by any woman at the time. The racing legend adds profile to a sector where women remain underrepresented in both capital allocation and leadership roles. Globally, startups founded solely by women received 2.1 per cent of venture capital funding in 2023, according to a study published last month by the Founders Forum Group. In the U.S., companies with at least one female founder secured 25 per cent of venture funding, but those led exclusively by women captured just 3 per cent. A 2024 report by the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub estimates that women-led startups in Canada received about 4 per cent of venture capital funding in 2023. Athena's general partnership and advisory council comprise more than 45 women with backgrounds in growth-stage investing, company building, and executive leadership. Ms. Vonn, who has held corporate board roles and completed a venture capital internship, will advise Athena on investor outreach and fundraising. Her perspective is aimed at strengthening the firm's push to back ambitious companies and outperform in a space that's still not always inclusive, the company said.
