Miriam Rivera

CEO, Co-Founder and Managing Director

2008 - Current

Co-founder and managing director of Ulu Ventures, a seed stage venture firm focused on enterprise IT. At Ulu, we focus on the market opportunity created by the Stanford and Silicon Valley communities and seek to generate great financial results using a disciplined, repeatable decision making process that analyzes risk-reward trade-offs. We also follow logical principles of portfolio construction. This approach makes us conventional in the world of institutional investors but contrarian as compared to other VCs. We believe entrepreneurship is the best tool set for solving the world’s toughest problems. As a result, we strive to learn about our entrepreneurs on a human level, to celebrate who they are and support them in being authentic to their visions. Diversity is not an altruistic goal for Ulu, it’s our investment thesis. We fund diverse entrepreneurs with outstanding ideas. Founders with diverse professional backgrounds and life experiences are better at problem solving and create better business opportunities.

Member Board Of Trustees

2022

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit behind Sesame Street and more—a community built on diversity, equity, and inclusion, where creators, educators, partners, and beloved characters come together to help kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.

Co-Founder /Board Member

2009

Trustee/Chair, Investments Committee, Member Audit & Financial Controls, Governance Committees

2017 - 2024

The Kauffman Foundation is among the largest private foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion focused on advancing opportunities in education and entrepreneurship fro Americans. The foundation works together with communities around the country to create opportunities and connect people to the tools they need to shape their futures and be successful.

Advisor, Venture Capital Director's College

2014 - 2018

Advised Dan Siciliano and Evan Epstein in development of an executive education offering for private company directors, including startup executives and VCs. Helped develop topics for annual conference that became the Stanford/NVCA Venture Capital Symposium.

Member, Advisory Council; Online Education Committee Member

2010 - 2015

Chief Operating Officer/General Counsel

2014 - 2014

Oversaw: 3 year financial audit; diligence and documentation of $49M of $70M Series B raise; appeal to obtain student visa clearance from US Dept. of Homeland Security. Developed and managed student services function and disciplinary processes for first admitted class.

Member, Board of Trustees

2008 - 2013

Over five years, served on combinations of the following Committees: Audit & Compliance; Academic Policy; Chair, Alumni & External Affairs; Globalization; Finance. Also served on Advisory Board of the Stanford Office of Technology Licensing.

Member, Board of Visitors

2006 - 2008

In addition to serving on the Board, assisted in re-accreditation process for the Law School, was selected to speak to the graduating class, was a panelist at various law school conferences and events and speaker to various student organizations. Have also conducted fund raising for a naming gift honoring Professor Bill Lazier.

Vice President/Deputy General Counsel

2001 - 2006

As Google’s second attorney, built and led Legal teams for corporate, commercial (advertising, procurement and inbound licensing, outbound licensing, strategic partnerships), technical operations, real estate, employment law, compliance and export/import, and various international areas. COO of the Legal department. Supported Google’s corporate governance and public company transition. As a JD/MBA, provided legal support and business advice, including contracting models, deal structures, and documentation for all of Google’s revenue. Built a talented, diverse, and efficient legal department. Delivered excellent customer service. Led or managed Legal activities on SOX, IRS 409(a), and international trade compliance. Promoted from Senior Corporate Counsel to Associate General Counsel to Director to Deputy General Counsel then Vice President in four years. Received two Google Founders Awards and one Google Luminary Award.