VC Spotlight: Emily Fontaine, Global Head of Venture Capital, IBM
Consider Emily Fontaine bullish on the New York tech scene.
As the Global Head of Venture Capital at IBM, Emily has seen her fair share of tech companies choosing to build in New York.
“We’re seeing an incredible concentration of startups, talent, and cutting-edge technology emerging right here — not just on the West Coast — making New York one of the most dynamic places to build and scale,” she told us.
And as you’ll read in our conversation below, Emily knows one of the advantages to building in NYC is that those companies are surrounded by real customers every day.
“That proximity allows founders to engage early, iterate quickly, and build with real-world feedback from day one,” she said.
You can hear directly from Emily during New York Tech Week on June 4 as she speaks on a panel with Tech:NYC’s Julie Samuels, Fizz’s Teddy Solomon, Comcast Ventures’ Allison Goldberg, and the New York Post’s Will Zimmerman about the future of tech and talent in NYC.
We caught up with Emily to discuss her career, the corporate venture capital industry, the NYC tech scene, and much more.
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Where did your career start?
Emily: I’ve built my career at IBM across multiple facets of the business — from serving as AI Government Leader in IBM Consulting, to the Chairman and CEO’s office, and now operating at the intersection of venture and the startup ecosystem with IBM Ventures.
You’ve spent over 15 years inside IBM, moving through consulting, federal AI, the CEO’s office, and now venture. What did each of those roles teach you that a traditional VC path might not have?
I’ve had the benefit of seeing the business from multiple lenses, and that perspective shapes how I operate as a leader, investor, and partner. Each of those experiences built on one another, compounding into how I think about leadership, strategy, and impact today. Along the way, I’ve learned how to deeply understand what clients truly need, and what it takes to translate ideas into solutions that work in practice. I’ve developed a strong foundation in strategic decision-making: how to prioritize, lead through complexity, and navigate how large organizations make meaningful, long-term bets.
What that ultimately enables is the ability to help others move faster and more effectively, with a strong focus on execution — turning vision into action. I focus on how ideas translate into impact, how they resonate with customers, scale within organizations, and deliver real outcomes. It’s about helping founders bridge the gap from innovation to adoption, executing with purpose, and building businesses that create lasting value.
What stage do you typically invest at and what's your average check size?
We focus on early-stage companies, from Seed through Series C, with check sizes ranging from $500k to $15 million, depending on stage and strategic alignment. We look for opportunities where we can add value beyond capital, particularly as a strategic investor through differentiated access to clients, partnerships, and our broader ecosystem. Our goal is to help companies scale from early traction to meaningful enterprise adoption within a global ecosystem.
You’re speaking on a panel during NY Tech Week about the future of tech and talent in NYC. What makes NYC an attractive place for ambitious founders who want to build companies with real-world customers from day one?
New York City offers a unique advantage: you’re surrounded by real customers every day. That proximity allows founders to engage early, iterate quickly, and build with real-world feedback from day one. Beyond that, it’s a market that moves fast and stays ahead of emerging trends. We’re seeing an incredible concentration of startups, talent, and cutting-edge technology emerging right here — not just on the West Coast — making New York one of the most dynamic places to build and scale.
What is your most bullish case for NYC tech over the next decade?
My bullish case for New York is already playing out. We’re seeing a surge of startups building here, and what’s different now is the shift toward enterprise-driven innovation, with AI and quantum capabilities being built alongside real customers. Over the next decade, the narrative will geographically expand beyond Silicon Valley to a more balanced view where New York is equally central — especially for founders focused on real-world deployment, not just experimentation. With its density of talent, capital, and direct access to global enterprises, NYC is one of the best places to build durable, category-defining companies.
For founders, what can a corporate venture firm like IBM Ventures offer beyond capital?
At IBM Ventures, we think about value well beyond capital. We bring differentiated access to enterprise clients, deep technical and industry expertise, and a global ecosystem of partners, enabling founders to move faster by scaling adoption. As a premier strategic investor, we leverage the full strength of IBM’s global network to help founders connect with relevant clients, enhance market visibility, and access operational support. With a dedicated portfolio development team, we exceed a 90% collaboration rate with our portfolio companies, well above the typical 50% CVC benchmark, reflecting our commitment to a truly hands-on partnership.
What’s the most common mistake you see founders make when pitching to investors?
One of the most common mistakes I see is founders leaning into technical detail before fully grounding the story — what they’re solving, for whom, and the outcome it drives.
The strongest pitches balance technical depth with industry insight, bringing it to life through clear use cases and why it matters in practice, not just how it works.
What’s an investment from the last 12 months you’re especially excited about?How do I even choose? There are so many standout companies in the portfolio. We focus on backing teams building the infrastructure for the next era of enterprise technology. One I’m particularly excited about is Atolio, which is enabling secure, AI-powered enterprise search with strong early momentum. And I’d be remiss not to mention Reality Defender — an NYC favorite where we’re deepening our partnership to bring critical deepfake detection capabilities to clients. Besides these investments, I’m particularly bullish and excited about emerging quantum software startups and innovative technologies, especially in New York State.
What’s in your tech stack? What's your favorite AI tool?
I use AI every day, but I tend to think beyond a single tool. At the center is IBM watsonx and watsonx Assistant (“Bob”), and through IBM’s broader ecosystem, spanning Microsoft, AWS, and partners like Anthropic, I get exposure to a range of models and platforms. That flexibility is key; it’s about matching the right AI capability to the task at hand.
What are some of the top resources you recommend for founders starting out?
My best advice for founders starting out: get as close to your customers as possible, as early as possible. Strategic investors can help you do just that — so build a cap table with partners who align with your vision and can open doors, drive early engagements, and turn traction into sustained growth. New York offers unmatched access to clients, creating opportunities to engage quickly, validate ideas, and turn conversations into proofs of concept that accelerate your trajectory.
Rapid fire: You have a founder or LP from out of town. Where are you taking them?
Hands down, ABCV. It’s one of my go-to spots, and not just because I’m a vegetarian. The food is consistently great, the atmosphere strikes the balance between polished and relaxed, and it’s just steps from our NYC flagship by Madison Square Park. A great setting for meaningful discussions and shared memories.
What’s the best slice of pizza in NYC?
Bleecker Street Pizza. When it’s that good, it’s just that good. And who doesn’t love a classic that folds exactly how a New York slice should?
