Early Life
Theresia Gouw was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1968, to parents of Chinese descent. Facing ethnic discrimination, her family immigrated to the United States when she was three years old, settling near Buffalo, New York. Gouw's parents, a dentist and a nurse, restarted their careers in the US. She showed an early aptitude for math, fostered by watching Buffalo Bills games with her father. In 1986, she became the first from her high school to enroll at Brown University, where she studied engineering, graduating magna cum laude in 1990.
Rise to Success
Gouw's career began with a role as a management consultant at Bain & Company. Later, she earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1996. Post-Stanford, she co-founded Release Software, a SaaS startup. Gouw's venture capital journey began at Accel Partners in 1999, where she became the firm's first female partner. During her 15 years at Accel, she played a pivotal role in successful investments, including Facebook (now Meta) and Trulia. In 2014, Gouw co-founded Aspect Ventures, one of Silicon Valley's first female-led VC firms. In 2019, she co-founded Acrew Capital, focusing on early-stage investments.
Key Business Strategies
Gouw's success stems from her strategic vision and focus on early-stage investments, particularly in the tech sector. She excels in identifying and supporting innovative companies with high growth potential, such as Imperva and ForeScout. A key strategy is championing diversity and inclusion within her firms and the broader tech landscape, which is reflected in Acrew Capital's commitment to diversity. Furthermore, she emphasizes building strong relationships with founders and providing hands-on support.
Philanthropy
Gouw is deeply involved in philanthropy, particularly in supporting education and increasing diversity in STEM fields. She co-founded All Raise, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the representation and success of women in venture capital and tech. She is a board member of DonorsChoose and ONE.org, further demonstrating her commitment to giving back and creating opportunities for others.
