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LindsayKaras Stencel

PartnerColumbus Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiativemoc.eniHnospmohT@lecnetS.saraK.yasdniL
Columbus

O 614.469.3222

M 614.205.2118

LindsayKaras Stencel

Partner
Columbus Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiativemoc.eniHnospmohT@lecnetS.saraK.yasdniL
Columbus

O 614.469.3222

M 614.205.2118

Focus Areas

Lindsay’s vast venture capital, startup and operational experience includes:

  • Venture capital fund formation and structuring for numerous established and emerging funds across the U.S.
  • SBIC fund formation
  • Drafting, negotiation and oversight of over 1000 investor-side and company-side startup financings
  • Oversight of state and federal compliance programs for venture capital funds across the U.S.
  • Drafting, management and oversight of M&A transactions for venture capital funds throughout the Northeast and Midwest, including acquisitions of portfolio companies by Fortune 25 Companies
  • As an investor, led the most active seed fund in the state of New York and one of the most active in the country
  • Established fund investment policies and guidelines
  • Has overseen hundreds of due diligence processes for investors and startup companies
  • Co-founded a women-focused venture capital firm
  • Co-founded an LGBTQ+ venture capital firm
  • “Navigating Chicago’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, October 2024
  • “Navigating Cleveland’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Webinar, April 2024
  • “All Things Government Contracts,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, May 2023
  • “FDA 101 for Startups,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, April 2023
  • “Copyright, Trademark and Non-Disclosure Agreements: What You Need to Know,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, March 2023
  • “Crypto & the Regulatory Landscape: What You Need to Know,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, February 2023
  • “Employment Law Update,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, January 2023
  • Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, October 2022
  • “A Year in Review: Sizing up the Year’s M&A,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, November 2022
  • “Need to Knows on Venture Debt,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, October 2022
  • “Strengthening Your Business’ ESG and Sustainability Strategies,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, September 2022
  • “Protecting Assets in a Digital World,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, August 2022
  • “The Dog Days of Summer,” Thompson Hine Podcast Series, Summer 2022
  • “Doing Business with the FDA,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, July 2022
  • “Crypto & the Regulatory Landscape: What You Need to Know,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, June 2022
  • “Copyright & Trademark: What You Need To Know,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, May 2022
  • “Employment Law Update for Startups,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, April 2022
  • “Potential CFIUS Issues When Taking on Foreign Capital,” Thompson Hine Startups Streamlined Podcast Series, March 2022
  • Rev1 Customer Learning Lab: Ask an Expert Panelist, May 2021
  • National Association of Women Lawyers: Women in Startups: SPAC & Exit Planning Panelist, May 2021
  • CLE Instruction through Westlaw: Demystifying Venture Fund Formation, May 2021
  • Guest Lecturer at Fisher College of Business at THE Ohio State University Entrepreneurship Class, April 2021
  • Connecting the Coasts to the Heartland – presentation on OHIO VC scene, April 2021
  • Guest Lecturer: Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic, March 2021
  • Guest Speaker: Home Depot Digital New Products Group: Nailing the Pitch, February 2021
  • Panelist, Upstate Capital Association, Investing & Well-Being Panel, January 2021
  • Invest New York: Health & Wellbeing Investor Perspectives Panel Discussion through Upstate Capital Association, January 2021
  • Keynote Speaker for NAWBO Annual Awards: BOLDly Taking Control of Your Life, January 2021
  • “Ask the Expert,” REV1 Client Orientation, December 2020
  • Webinar “Unlocking the Mysteries of IP and Venture Capital,” CLE taught with Roger Bora, December 2020
  • Innovate New Albany “Ask the Expert Panel,” December 2020
  • Launch New York Annual Meeting Presentation “Current State of Affairs in Seed Investing,” November 2020
  • Ohio Wesleyan “Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital: Getting Started,” November 2020
  • State of Venture in Ohio, Annual Tiger Talk at Innovate New Albany, October 2020
  • Rev1 Ventures, Capital Access Learning Lab – Cap Table Management, October 2020
  • Rev1Ventures: Ask the Expert Panel, October 2020
  • Guest Lecturer at Ohio State Fisher College of Business Entrepreneurship Class, October 2020
  • Rev1Ventures, Capital Access Learning Lab – Cap Table Management, October 2020
  • Venture for America: Columbus as the Next Major VC Hub, October 2020
  • TechStars Buffalo, Startup Week “Don’t Burn Out Before You’ve Started: Avoiding founder burnout,” October 2020
  • Real Estate and VC Funding panel discussion with the Columbus Investment Club, September 2020
  • Michael Redd’s Podcast, Betting on Yourself – “Shatter the Glass Ceiling,” September 2020
  • Guest Lecturer at Entrepreneurial Business Law Clinic, The Ohio State University, September 2020
  • SEA Change 2020 Signature Cohort Panel: “Startup Funding Options,” September 2020
  • “Asking for What You Want…And Getting It!”, Westerville Chamber of Commerce, July 2020
  • “Moving Past Seed Funding” Launch NY LP Summit June 2020
  • Second Annual VentureOut: Expert Panelist, June 2020
  • Entrepreneurial Resiliency Series, Strategy & Finance, June 2020
  • “What VCs Are Thinking Now: A COVID Edition,” Innovate New Albany, May 15, 2020
  • “Being Lindsay,” Keynote Address to 500+ virtual attendees of Venture NY and the New York Business Plan Competition, April 30, 2020
  • “Navigating the CARES Act,” Book+Street, April 2020
  • “Conquering Columbus,” Podcast 183, December 2019
  • “All You Need is a Seed: Startup Up Funding 101” Latitude 43North Podcast
  • “State of Venture in Ohio,” Innovate New Albany, 2019
  • Keynote Speaker, “Venture Capital in the Midwest,” Business Law Institute, Ohio Bar Association, 2019
  • “Money, Power, Respect are the Key to Deals,” Columbus Startup Week, 2019
  • Speaker, “Exploring What’s New in Alternative Investments and Private Placements,” Ohio Securities Conference, 2019
  • “How to Deal with Power Plays; Winning the Meta Negotiation” with Kwame Christian, Esq., September 2019
  • “Intentionally Investing in and Supporting Female Founders,” September 2019
  • “Investing in Startups: A Deep Dive for Accredited Investors,” September 2019
  • “Articulating Your Growth Story to Investors,” London Stock Exchange Group at Ohio University, June 2019
  • “How to Finance Your Startup,” SelectUSA Investment Summit, Washington, D.C., June 2019
  • “Women, Money & Tech,” Ithaca, NY through Upstate Capital Association, March 2019
  • Recipient of Thompson Hine’s Diversity Champion Award, 2021
  • Selected for inclusion in Columbus CEO Future 50 class of 2021
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2021-2025 for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Selected for inclusion in Columbus Business First 40 under 40 class of 2020
  • 2020 NVCA American Spirit Award Nominee
  • 2019 Upstate Capital Investor of the Year
  • 2019 Upstate Venture Connect Community Catalyst Award
  • 2018 Upstate Capital Early Stage Dealmaker of the Year
  • 2018 Upstate Venture Connect Community Catalyst Award Nominee
  • 2017 Upstate Capital Early Stage Dealmaker of the Year Nominee
  • 2016 “20 People to Know in Finance in Columbus, OH” Columbus Business First
  • 2016 Named “5 of Ohio’s Most Trailblazing Attorneys,” Ohio Bar Association

Professional Associations

  • Adjunct Professor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2019-present
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Michigan Bar Association
  • New York Bar Association
  • Upstate Capital Association, Board Member
  • Chairwoman, Venture NY Startup Selection Committee
  • Board of Directors, Data Inventions, Inc.
  • Board of Directors, Small Biz Cares, Inc.

Education

  • The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 2009
  • The Ohio State University, M.B.A., 2009
  • Canisius College, B.A., 2005

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • Michigan
  • New York