Cornerstone VC hires Ella Wales Bonner as first female partner

London, United Kingdom – Cornerstone VC is delighted to announce the appointment of Ella Wales Bonner as their newest partner, as they continue their mission to build a leading firm with a diversity led investment thesis.

Ella’s impressive journey into the world of VC began in Marketing at M&C Saatchi before a five-year tenure at JamJar Investments, a prominent European Consumer VC fund initiated by the founders of Innocent Drinks. Her arrival marks the firm’s first female partner and re-confirms Cornerstone’s commitment to building a world class team.

Ella not only brings a wealth of experience, but also an undeniable passion for championing diversity in the venture capital industry. She has been the force behind multiple diversity initiatives in the last few years, such as mentoring young black professionals, organising events for diverse founders, hosting workshops for aspiring VCs, and even providing free business coaching to a range of underrepresented groups. Her dedication to these efforts will be integral to Cornerstone’s mission to create a more inclusive venture capital landscape.

In her new role, Ella will not only handle investment responsibilities but will also spearhead the development of Cornerstone’s in-house coaching practice, a move that aims to support the leadership potential of our portfolio companies.

Ella comments,

“I have seen first-hand the power of coaching and how it can revolutionise the way people show up in business. I see this as a fundamental part of our people-first strategy at Cornerstone, establishing us as a leading VC in the UK.”

She adds,

“Joining Cornerstone was an easy decision. This is a unique opportunity to help diverse founding teams build brilliant businesses. It is a joy to be working alongside Rodney, Wil, and Edwin, whose brilliant leadership has brought on board LPs such as BGF, Hg, and Atomico, supported by an exceptional expert network.”

Rodney Appiah, Managing Partner is equally enthusiastic about Ella’s appointment, noting, “Ella was the standout candidate from the minute we met her. She has the perfect blend of early stage VC experience, passion for diversity and a genuine commitment to creating a different type of VC firm. We are delighted that she has decided to join Cornerstone and look forward to building something special together.”

Ella forms part of the core team at Cornerstone and will be joining Investment Committee. With her on board, Cornerstone VC will be gearing up for their second close later this year and continuing to double down on deployment through to the end of the year.