This is part 8 of 10 of our 10 Years of Laconia Series.
Sometimes the best talent finds you. That's exactly what happened when Mirit Lugassi sent me a cold email after an Included VC workshop (thanks to our Venture Fellow, Ross Haleliuk, for the invite!). Little did we know that this email would lead to one of our most important team additions.
Here's the thing about Mirit: once you meet her, you start seeing her everywhere. She showed up at non-profit roundtables discussing LP perspectives. She appeared at Venture Cooperative AMAs. She participated in VC Unleashed events and practice pitch sessions. Usually, it’s hard for people outside VC to end up in the VC rooms, but it was like she had already broken into the industry.
It wasn't just about showing up. Mirit brought something special to every conversation: a unique blend of operational expertise, strategic thinking, and genuine curiosity about transforming venture capital. With more than a decade of experience building B2B software companies across the US, UK, Israel, and Europe, she had the kind of global perspective we valued. She had transformed companies as Head of Growth & Customer Success at DueDil (acquired by Artesian) and VP of Customer Operations at a high-growth edtech startup. When we say she drives results, we mean it—we're talking about 10x ARR increases and 5x monthly customer acquisition acceleration.
Mirit’s work extended beyond traditional operations. She helped build 51 Unicorns, an investment club focused on female retail investors, and SeedImpact, connecting mission-driven angel investors with underrepresented founders. As an Included VC fellow, she was actively working to diversify the face of our industry.
The more we got to know Mirit, the more obvious it became: we needed her on our team. Her operational background meant she could offer founders practical, been-there-done-that advice. Her strategic mindset helped her spot promising opportunities others might miss. And her commitment to changing venture capital aligned perfectly with our mission.
In true Laconia fashion, this wasn't just about adding another investor to our team. It was about finding someone who would make us better—someone who brought new perspectives, challenged our thinking and shared our values of transparency, collaboration, and community.
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary and look toward the future, bringing Mirit onto our team stands out as one of our best decisions. She embodies everything we look for in a partner: whip-smart execution, genuine empathy, sharp judgment, and unwavering optimism about what venture capital can be.
You can reach Mirit at mirit@laconiacapitalgroup.com. But fair warning: once you meet her, don't be surprised if you start seeing her everywhere too. That's just the Mirit effect.
