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Padnos: Most non-conflicted advisory council members are Illuminate LPs

Cindy Padnos · Smart Seed Investing With Illuminate Ventures Founder and Managing Partner Cindy Padnos · May 8, 2025 · at 11:40

Cindy Padnos, founder of seed-stage firm Illuminate Ventures, explains how the firm aligns incentives with its 45-member Business Advisory Council.

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“Most of them are also LPs in our funds, those that don't have a conflict.”

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