Nicole Glaros

I’m a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and startup ecosystem builder with over 15 years of experience supporting early-stage technology companies. 

My entrepreneurial journey started in the fourth grade, organizing theatrical plays with my cousins and charging neighbors for admission. While pursuing a master’s degree in sport psychology at the University of Florida, I co-founded a tech startup serving the property management industry, and that’s when I truly fell in love with entrepreneurship and seed-stage investing.

In 2002, I joined CTEK, a Colorado-based incubator, and helped expand its footprint from one to five offices across the state, laying much of the foundation for Colorado’s vibrant startup scene. Later, I became one of the first employees at Techstars, a global startup accelerator, where I served in multiple leadership roles, including Managing Director for the flagship Boulder accelerator program (and a stint in NYC too!), Chief Product Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, and Chief Investment Strategy Officer. During my time there, Techstars grew from a single program in Boulder to over 50 programs around the world, supporting more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap of over $77 billion.

I’ve invested in more than 100 startups and have served on the boards of companies like Pana (acquired by Coupa), Simple Energy (which merged to form Uplight), GreatHorn, and Nextbite. I’ve backed multiple unicorns, but most importantly, I’ve been a confidant to many great founders and hopefully made a difference in their journey. 

I’ve been lucky to have my work recognized by publications like Business Insider (who named me one of the “Coolest People in New York Tech”), Marie Claire (as part of the “New Guard”), and Entrepreneur Magazine (as one of the “7 Most Powerful Women to Watch”). I’ve also had the opportunity to speak at incredible events like SXSW, TEDx, WebSummit, and Pioneers Festival, and I’ve been featured on CNBC, Inc.com, and the Huffington Post.

Pushing personal limits is part of who I am. I’ve been a competitive swimmer, triathlete, and boxer. I’ve summited Mount Rainier, graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), and guided adventure travel trips. I also co-founded the new professional women’s Soccer team in Denver. I've previously sat on the board of the Leeds school of Business at the University of Colorado, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Denver Branch. 

I live by the mantra #GiveFirst, and I commit to at least one philanthropic endeavor every year.

When I’m not deep in the startup world, you’ll probably find me hanging with my husband and two kids—hiking, biking, skiing, playing volleyball, doing martial arts, reading, or off on some travel adventure.

Read more about why I joined Matchstick Ventures on my blog.