# Ulili Onovakpuri

> Uriridiakoghene 'Ulili' Onovakpuri is a trailblazing venture capitalist who spent 10+ years at Kapor Capital, rising from analyst to Co-Managing Partner and co-raising the firm's largest-ever fund - $126M Fund III in 2022. One of very few Black female managing partners in VC history, she backed 70+ companies with a focus on digital health, health tech, and people operations, while also founding the longest-running VC fellowship program for underrepresented individuals. Her own childhood diagnosis of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in Hunter's Point, San Francisco, where she grew up, directly shaped her conviction that healthcare access is a systemic justice issue. In May 2025 she departed Kapor Capital for what she called 'a purposeful pause,' and has since joined Motley Fool Ventures as a Venture Partner.

- **Role:** Venture Partner at Motley Fool Ventures
- **Organizations:** Motley Fool Ventures, Kapor Capital (former), Village Capital (former), Fresco Capital (former), LifeKit (founder)
- **From:** San Francisco, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** MBA, Health Sector Management, Duke University, Fuqua School of Business, B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (Business and Health in Global Societies), University of California, Berkeley, Business Management Certificate, Tel Aviv University, Leon Recanati Graduate School, Study Abroad - Creative Writing and South Asian Studies, University of East Anglia
- **Known for:** One of very few Black female Managing Partners in venture capital history, Co-raised Kapor Capital Fund III: $126M (largest fund in firm history, 2022), Backed 70+ companies during 10+ year tenure at Kapor Capital

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Internship at Mozilla Corporation
- **2011** — Graduated UC Berkeley; joined Kapor Capital as Investment Analyst; launched Summer Associates Program
- **2013** — Senior Consultant Intern at IBM; began Duke MBA; founded LifeKit mobile health startup
- **2014** — Joined Village Capital as Director of Global Programs
- **2015** — Became Venture Partner at Fresco Capital; returned to Kapor Capital as Principal
- **2018** — Promoted to Partner at Kapor Capital (February 6, 2018)
- **2019** — Launched Kapor Capital Talent Network
- **2021** — Elevated to Co-Managing Partner at Kapor Capital alongside Brian Dixon
- **2022** — Co-raised Kapor Capital Fund III: $126M, largest in firm history
- **2025** — Departed Kapor Capital after 10+ years (May 2025); joined Motley Fool Ventures as Venture Partner

## Achievements

- One of very few Black female Managing Partners in venture capital history
- Co-raised Kapor Capital Fund III: $126M (largest fund in firm history, 2022)
- Backed 70+ companies during 10+ year tenure at Kapor Capital
- Founded the longest-running VC fellowship program for underrepresented individuals
- Launched Kapor Capital Summer Associates Program (2011) to demystify VC for underrepresented talent
- Founded LifeKit, a mobile health solution for underserved communities
- Speaker at Milken Institute Global Conference 2021
- Speaker at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022
- Speaker at Grace Hopper Celebration Senior Leadership Summit 2019
- Level Playing Field Institute IDEAL Scholar at UC Berkeley

## Latest updates

- **2025-05** — Departed Kapor Capital after 10+ years, describing it as a 'purposeful pause' not a permanent exit from investing
- **2025-05** — Joined Motley Fool Ventures as Venture Partner
- **2022-05** — Co-raised Kapor Capital Fund III at $126M, the largest fund in firm history with 100% underrepresented founders portfolio composition

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uonovakpuri/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/unolil
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ulili.o/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/ulili-onovakpuri
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-29