In a changed VC landscape, this exec is doubling down on overlooked founders

Cherryrock Capital: A Throwback to Venture Capital’s Roots

Stacy Brown-Philpot is shaking up Silicon Valley with her unique approach to venture capital. While many in the tech industry are chasing after mega-rounds and AI deals, Brown-Philpot is taking a different path with Cherryrock Capital. Instead of focusing on flashy investments, she is writing smaller Series A and B checks to founders that larger firms often overlook.

With a background as the former TaskRabbit CEO and a decade-long Google veteran, Brown-Philpot launched Cherryrock a year ago to address a persistent gap in the market. She noticed a lack of access to capital for “underinvested entrepreneurs” who are building software companies at a crucial growth stage.

After spending time with the SoftBank Opportunity Fund, Brown-Philpot saw firsthand the abundance of overlooked founders in the industry. When SoftBank divested from the diversity-focused initiative in 2023, Brown-Philpot saw an opportunity to double down and launch her own fund. By February 2025, Cherryrock had closed its debut fund with over 2,000 companies in its pipeline.

Unlike other funds that make dozens of bets or write nine-figure checks, Cherryrock is taking a concentrated approach with 12 to 15 targeted investments from its first fund. Brown-Philpot and her team have backed five companies so far, showing a measured pace in deploying capital that harkens back to an earlier generation of VCs.

One of the key focuses of Cherryrock is on backing “underinvested” founders who may not fit the typical Silicon Valley mold. Despite the current political climate and the spotlight on diversity, Brown-Philpot remains unfazed. She emphasizes that the goal of investors like JPMorgan and Bank of America is to generate a return, regardless of external pressures.

With a diverse group of investors like Goldman Sachs Asset Management, MassMutual, and Melinda Gates’s Pivotal Ventures, Cherryrock is well-positioned to navigate the changing landscape of venture capital. California’s new diversity reporting law, which requires VC firms to report demographic data on their portfolio companies’ founding teams, aligns with Cherryrock’s commitment to prioritizing investments in diverse founders.

Brown-Philpot’s unique perspective comes from her roles on the boards of HP, StockX, and Stanford University. She is actively involved in supporting both enterprise buyers and the next generation of founders. Her portfolio reflects her thesis, with investments in companies like Coactive AI and Vitable Health, led by founders with diverse backgrounds and innovative solutions.

Looking ahead to 2026, Brown-Philpot’s focus remains on actively deploying capital and supporting Series A and B companies that have achieved product-market fit at scale. While the venture capital industry debates the future of diversity initiatives, Brown-Philpot is steadfast in her mission to find and support great founders, no matter where they come from.

As she succinctly puts it, “I’m from Detroit. Hard things are hard, but we know how to do hard things.”