MINNNEAPOLIS (Nov. 17, 2021) – Sofia Fund, the angel investment firm focused exclusively on women-led companies, announces that its partner, long-term investor Joy Lindsay, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding career in technology from the Minnesota Technology Association (MnTech). The award was presented today at MnTech’s TEKNE Awards, an annual program that celebrates Minnesota innovation and one of the largest regional technology programs in the country
“Joy’s leadership in the technology sector has had a profound and enduring impact on our broader community,” said Jeff Tollefson, president and CEO of MnTech. “We consider this much more than a regional recognition, given Minneapolis/St. Paul is a national hotspot for technology startups and investors.”
Cathy Connett, Sofia Fund managing partner, concurs: “Our fund makes investments from coast to coast. Joy’s name is synonymous nationally with angel investing and private equity in some of the most successful technology companies, particularly those that are founded or led by women.”
Lindsay was a founder of Sofia Fund in the early stages of investing in woman entrepreneurs; it is one of the longest-standing women-focused investment funds in the U.S. and has brought dozens of women into the angel investor pool. Exits from Sofia Fund’s current fund include Rebiotix, Vixar, and Explorer Surgical.
After a successful career at West Publishing (now Thomson Reuters), Lindsay left the corporate world to become CEO and co-founder of StarTec Investments, a private venture capital firm that has been investing in technology companies since 1998. Through StarTec, Joy has made investments in more than 30 early-stage companies in Minnesota, providing strategic guidance and industry connections in addition to growth capital. Successful exits include investments in XIOtech, Gentra Systems, Iconoculture, GovDelivery, Compellent, Magnet 360, and Flipgrid, among others.
Lindsay’s tech community leadership has also included board and advisory roles with the Minnesota Technology Association, University of Minnesota, Minnesota Venture Capital Association, Minnesota’s Science and Technology Advisory Commission, and the Twin Cities Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minnesota. She’s been an advisor to the state’s legislators on the technology market, advocated for Minnesota’s Angel Tax Credit, and has served on numerous boards of emerging companies and as a judge in many entrepreneurial programs.
About Sofia Fund
Sofia Fund invests in exceptional women-led companies to maximize returns for investors by helping to bring its portfolio companies successfully to profitable exits. Sofia Fund uses a rigorous process for selecting and investing in high-growth, technology-driven opportunities. Its team of professional women angel investors actively manages and supports its portfolio businesses, leveraging deep expertise and broad networks to help women entrepreneurs achieve success. For more information about Sofia Fund, visit www.sofiafund.com.