Early Life
Theresia Gouw was born in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1968, to parents of Chinese descent. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was three years old, escaping political tensions in Indonesia. They settled near Buffalo, New York, where her parents initially worked in service jobs while her father requalified as a dentist. Gouw excelled in school, graduating as the first person from her high school to attend Brown University in 1986, where she earned a degree in engineering in 1990.
Rise to Success
After Brown, Gouw worked at Bain & Company before earning an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1996. She co-founded Release Software, a SaaS startup, and then joined Accel Partners in 1999, becoming its first female partner and managing partner. While at Accel, she was part of the team that invested in Facebook early on. In 2014, Gouw co-founded Aspect Ventures and then Acrew Capital in 2019. Acrew focuses on early-stage investments and is known for its commitment to diversity in tech.
Key Business Strategies
Gouw's investment strategy involves identifying promising tech companies and supporting them through early-stage funding. She has been recognized for her ability to spot potential in emerging companies and has a strong focus on diversity and inclusion within her firms. Acrew Capital's Diversify Capital Fund is aimed at increasing equity ownership among underrepresented communities in tech.
Philanthropy
Theresia Gouw is involved in philanthropy, particularly in supporting education and increasing diversity in the tech industry. She co-founded All Raise, a nonprofit aimed at advancing women in venture capital and tech. She has also donated to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).