Jessica Karr

Membership: Founding Member
Joined: March 2023
Company: Coyote Ventures
Title: General Partner
Education: BS, Biochemistry from Texas State University, MBA from Presidio Graduate School, and Masters of Science in Biochemistry from UC San Diego
Social Media: LinkedIn

Professional Biography

Embracer of complexity, systems thinking, and all shades of gray. Loves diving deep into taboo topics, and bringing together people who would be unlikely to meet. Open water swimmer, yoga instructor, rescue dog mom, tequila mixologist, avid reader.

I was born and raised in West Texas, began working at age 14 as a receptionist in my dad's dentist office. I also shadowed OBGYN doctors where my mom was a nurse. I was pre-med at Texas State University. I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry, BA in Philosophy, minor in Spanish through study abroad. I joined the Biochemistry PhD program at UC San Diego as a researcher in Dr. Pieter Dorrestein’s lab, where we studied interspecies communication of the microbiome and developed novel mass spectrometry techniques. I left the PhD program after completing an MS.

I then joined Impossible Foods when it was less than a year old, as the 12th employee. I worked in R&D and product development to help develop and launch the Impossible Burger. I learned a lot about developing novel products with potential for massive positive impact, while working with a strong team, and enjoyed cultivating a company culture. I worked with Impossible Foods for 6+ years, from idea stage up through public launch.

I went on to complete an MBA at Presidio Graduate School that focuses on sustainability and impact. I consulted with over a dozen early stage startups in the Bay Area and internationally on product strategy, R&D integration, and financial modeling. I deepened my understanding of the innovation process, team formation, and startup financing.

I began to pursue my lifelong dream of investing. All of my direct investments have become unicorns, where my thesis was consumer products that are tech-enabled and have positive impact in antiquated industries. I helped build the investment strategy and operations for a celebrity's impact-focused VC fund. It was here that I diligenced deals in women’s health and sexual wellness, and became completely obsessed. I understood the marginalization of women’s health and wellness, including sexual wellness, to have a direct impact on gender equality. I knew then that this is the most important thing I could be working on.

I founded Coyote Ventures in 2021. Our thesis is to invest in early stage companies innovating in women’s health and wellness. We fund the launch of impactful products and technologies that improve all areas of women’s lives, and strive to advance conversations around taboo topics.

Endorsements

I have known Jessica since May 2012 when she first joined Impossible Foods (IF) as a senior research associate. Her innovative laboratory research contributed to the creation and success of our first product, the Impossible burger. She also did a lot to enrich the culture at IF by spearheading many fun and team-building activities and events at the company. I did not work directly with Jessica at that time, but I knew her to be a bright, hard working, intellectually curious and results-oriented. In mid-2014 she approached me about starting a “Food and Health” seminar series. I was impressed by her initiative and interest in broad areas beyond what she was working on. When Jessica started Business school, I was happy for the opportunity to collaborate with her. For the last year and a half, I have employed Jessica as a consultant to work on a number of research projects important to both the Nutrition and Health team and other teams including R&D and customer relations. She is very reliable and detail oriented, and writes well. With Jessica’s diverse background, she brings a fresh and multidisciplinary viewpoint to her work.

- Sue Klapholz, Scientist