Natty Zola

Partner at Matchstick Ventures

Partner
2018 - Current
Investing in early-stage fast-growing technology companies between the coasts. $100M AUM, 60+ investments.

Managing Director
2015 - 2020
Ran six Techstars Boulder accelerator programs, Techstars' flagship program. Investor in 64 companies through the six accelerator programs, now worth over $3B. Built a network of the best leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and partners in the Colorado area.

Senior Director, Product Management & Design
2012 - 2015
Head of Product for MapQuest consumer products. - Responsible for product strategy and design for all consumer facing products including MapQuest.com and the MapQuest iOS and Android Apps (60M+ multi-platform users). - Built and led product management, design, analytics, revenue, traffic and user research teams - Culture lead, responsible for developing MapQuest's Playbook, Vision, and Values resulting in MapQuest being named Top Places to Work in Denver in 2013 and 2014 - Returned MapQuest to YoY traffic growth for the first time since ’07 and profitability
Director
2013 - 2013
Principal Product Manager
2012 - 2013

Co-Founder and Co-CEO
2008 - 2012
Co-founder and Co-CEO of Everlater.com - Conceived, built, and grew a consumer travel blogging platform and a CRM tool for tour operators - Accepted into Techstars (Boulder) in 2009 - Two rounds of Venture financing from Highway 12 Ventures - Successful acquisition by AOL and merged into MapQuest on 10/31/12 More about Everlater: Everlater's consumer travel blogging platform enabled any traveler to create an online record of a travel experience. Mobile apps allowed travelers to add content while on-the-road, whether online or offline. Users were able to order printed photo books of their content when they returned. Everlater's CRM software, called Concourse, for tour operators and cruise lines was designed to enhance the experience for booked travelers. After a simple integration of Concourse travelers are able to interact with their trip like never before from learning about where they are going and what it will be like to connecting with fellow travelers and sharing photos and stories with friends and family. Our software includes web, mobile and print applications and is fully branded. Top travel brands like Lindblad Expeditions - National Geographic and EF Educational Tours use Concourse technology to enhance their travelers experience.

Financial Management Program
2005 - 2008
Top tier performer in GE’s Financial Management Program (FMP): rotational program with four six-month roles in conjunction with four complimentary GE finance courses taught by senior leaders covering accounting, financial planning and analysis, risk, and strategy. - Analyst at GE Corporate Investor Relations - Acquisition Auditor and Integration Lead at GE Oil & Gas on the Vetco Gray Acquisition - Pricing Analyst at GE Capital Solutions Vendor Financial Services - Financial Analyst at GE Corporate Financial Services structured finance unit specializing in Media, Communication & Entertainment

Senior Research Associate
2003 - 2005
Senior research associate to Jim Collins, management consultant and best selling author of “Good to Great”, "Great by Choice" and “Built to Last”. - Completed projects and led teams of undergrads studying stock market returns over a 30 year period, analyzing the airline and consumer electronics industries, and building analytical criteria models to test companies in various industries for unique management techniques. - My contributions are included in "Great by Choice" and "How the Mighty Fall".