Sarah Hodges is an operator-turned-investor who co-founded Intelligent.ly to train over 3,000 emerging leaders at Boston startups and helped scale Pluralsight into one of the world's largest online tech learning communities before joining Pillar VC. She's known for her founder-obsessed coaching style that emphasizes mental health and resilience, plus her hands-on approach to helping founders build strong teams through specific frameworks for customer discovery, hiring executives, and embedding diversity and inclusion from day one.

• A champion of the Boston and Massachusetts technology ecosystem, frequently highlighting local innovation happening in labs and warehouses. Active in initiatives like the Massachusetts AI Coalition and dedicated to leveraging physical resources, such as expanding into a 30,000-square-foot office, to actively support local founders.
• Deep engagement with university ecosystems, specifically cultivating relationships with student and alumni founders from institutions like MIT and Harvard. promoting programs like the Moonshot competition and noting a history of backing over 50 university-affiliated startups across distinct pods like robotics, bio, and AI.
• Investment thesis centered on the intersection of AI, biology, and science. Views the convergence of these fields as a movement driving the next wave of innovation, while also expressing excitement about practical AI applications, such as using new tools like Day AI to source job candidates and automate investor communications.
• Dedication to hands-on founder support and community building through curated events and services. Organizes initiatives like a Co-Founder Match community to connect entrepreneurs and maintains firm traditions, such as a champagne toast where new portfolio founders sign a bottle to mark the partnership.
• Personal appreciation for music, travel, and culinary experiences in the New England area. Shares enthusiasm for bands like Phish and Eggy, alongside specific local dining recommendations in Boston and Cambridge.