Charlie O'Donnell

Charlie is the Founder and General Partner of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, the first venture capital fund based in Brooklyn, New York. He maps out the inner workings of the startup ecosystem by coaching early-career investors and authors Founder Unfriendly, a transparent guide on what VCs won't tell you about getting funded. He also writes frequently on venture dynamics, startup pitches, and the mechanics of early-stage capital.He's a 20-year veteran of the New York City venture community, where he has backed more than 100 early-stage companies. Before launching Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, he spent years navigating the ecosystem from prominent vantage points—serving as the very first analyst at Union Square Ventures and helping establish First Round Capital's New York presence. This extensive track record gives him a deep, foundational view of the East Coast tech landscape, having sourced or invested early in iconic brands like GroupMe, Foursquare, and Refinery29.