Meet Emily Fritze, Partner at Westly Group

Emily Fritze is a Partner at the early-stage venture capital firm The Westly Group. Emily was born in Texas and grew up in the sun-baked state of Arizona. She credits her father, a journalist, for instilling in her an interest in politics and current events. That foundational beginning set the tone for her early explorations into the world of politics. At the University of Arizona, Emily served as student body president and worked on legislative issues at the state and student-level. Upon graduation, she moved out to Washington D.C. to work as a junior aide for former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. What followed suit was a string of various roles across government under the Obama administration: a policy staffer role to the U.S. Secretary of Energy; a year spent in Ireland for postgrad studies as the recipient of the State Department’s prestigious Mitchell Scholarship; a role as Chief of Staff at Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) funding climate and energy startups; and finally, a year as a Senior Director managing energy and climate policy for the Cabinet Affairs office. By the end of Emily’s D.C. career, the federal political apparatus was changing--President Obama was out and President Trump was in. Rather than angling for a role in the new administration, Emily decided that she would move to San Francisco, to try to be closer to work with early-stage startups tackling the climate crisis. She had performed a similar role while as a political appointee at ARPA-E, but this time she would be on the side of the investors, not the federal government. She landed at Powerhouse, an incubator based in Oakland focused on energy, climate, and mobility startups. Three years later, by the time she left Powerhouse, she had helped the outfit raise its initial fund focused on seed and pre-seed investments. Today, as a Partner at The Westly Group, Emily shows no signs of slowing down. Her next big milestone is building a family with her husband in the Bay Area. Investing though remains top of mind. Ambitious as ever, Emily remains on the continuous hunt to find the next big thing. 

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Sam: What's your favorite part of venture capital? What makes you alive at the job?

Emily: There are a lot of fun aspects to venture capital, but I most enjoy sourcing and diligence. I love hunting for exciting companies and finding a path to meet entrepreneurs and build a relationship. I enjoy interacting with founders, hearing their stories, and analyzing markets.

It’s satisfying to find an exciting opportunity and dig deeper to build a thesis that the opportunity is significant. 

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Sam: Do you have any least favorite aspects of the job or things you don’t enjoy as much?

Emily: Managing companies through stressful times can be challenging. It can be tough, but it’s also an opportunity to effectively problem solve across a board and learn something that can be considered in future investing or help another portfolio company. 

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Sam: Looking back on your career—whether in politics or venture capital—what are the big lessons you’ve taken away?

Emily: One big takeaway for me has been the importance of taking calculated risks at the right stage of your life. We see entrepreneurs do this all the time, putting a lot on the line to build their companies. But the same applies to career decisions—whether it’s taking a chance on an early-stage venture fund, betting on yourself to land a job you didn’t think you were qualified for, or moving to a new city for an opportunity.

For me, moving from politics across the country to San Francisco and eventually convincing people to give me a chance in venture was a big calculated risk. But those decisions can really pay off over time and reap huge dividends for your career.

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Sam: What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself or to emerging VCs who are thinking about how to move up in their firms?

Emily: I think it’s important to develop a clear understanding of what’s valued at your firm and what leads to promotions. Focus on delivering high-quality work across the board, but especially on building a track record that proves you’re ready for the next level.

At the same time, it’s worth reflecting on whether your firm offers a path for upward mobility. In some firms, promotions are tied to external factors like fundraising, and it’s important to be intentional about choosing a platform where you’ll get great training and mentorship. If you realize there’s no upward trajectory where you are, don’t be afraid to consider other options that might better align with your goals.

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Sam: What does a “signature Emily deal” look like?

Emily: Usually, it’s in an emerging market. I like to look for market trends and themes and then build a thesis around them. A typical deal for me involves identifying a trend with strong macro tailwinds, finding a solution that solves a distinct challenge with a clear ROI or value, and then scrubbing the entire sector to find the best team.

It’s more of a process than a specific type of deal, but it’s always about connecting the dots between trends, solutions, and the best teams.

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Sam: Is there anything you would’ve done differently looking back?

Emily: Not really, but I think I would have taken more of my own advice. I would have bet on myself earlier and taken more calculated risks in my career. Moments of self-doubt can make you hesitate, but every time I’ve taken a risk, it’s paid off.

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Sam: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 or 20 years?

Emily: I’m really excited about this next stage of life. My husband and I are focused on building a family and continuing to enjoy the Bay Area, which we love.

Career-wise, I’m looking forward to growing as an investor. Venture is such a continuous learning process with a long feedback cycle, and I want to keep improving and become a better investor.

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