Karen Bakula

“Early-stage operator who has been with Narravance, Inc. since inception, building core internal functions (Legal, Compliance, HR) and designing COO/CFO capabilities. Hands-on experience with startup finance operations including cap table management in Carta, closing a SAFE, and creating/issuing a warrants program, alongside implementing a full policy/procedure framework and mentoring founders through high-stakes strategic tradeoffs.”

“Startup and corporate venture builder with board/advisor/consulting experience across media-tech and automotive ventures, including helping launch NASCAR’s production and content creation arm as a standalone subsidiary. Has worked with 360° camera/content companies and AI-driven robotic camera/workflow products, and also built an entrepreneurship major track for a business school; seeks CEO role within a venture studio while taking a disciplined approach to personal financial risk.”

“Recruiting leader with experience managing teams from 5 to 55 and staying hands-on in senior/executive searches. Partnered closely with HRBPs and a CFO at PDT, including designing compensation structures for a junior-talent program and helping build out the CFO’s organization over 6 years. Known for implementing a shorter, structured, data-driven interview process that improved hiring speed and enabled teams to become fully staffed and more proactive in hiring.”

Michael Smith

Screened

Principal-level finance leader specializing in venture-backed startups and strategic finance

New York, NY16y exp

“Repeat founder and former venture investor with 7 years of investing experience, now building a startup focused on fixing CPG trade promotion inefficiencies. The candidate articulates a differentiated product vision using predictive modeling and portfolio-wide cross-elasticity analysis rather than event-by-event TPM measurement, and is actively mapping the NY venture studio ecosystem to support 0-to-1 company building.”