Sydney Sykes is a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners who co-founded BLCK VC, a nonprofit focused on doubling the number of Black investors in venture capital, and has built a nationwide community that she calls her secret sauce for deal flow and relationships. She invests with a people and behavior lens rooted in psychology and economics, actively looks for grit and problem-solving skills that come from navigating adversity, and uses her platform to educate founders and emerging investors about how venture capital really works.

• Interested in ecommerce enablement tools that solve tangible problems for retailers, specifically those using technology to boost revenue. She actively looks for startups that help brands increase conversion rates, noting that while many tools exist, few successfully drive meaningful growth for merchants.
• Focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and marketplaces, particularly how generative AI can modernize the retail experience. She highlighted her investment in Big Sur AI as a prime example of using AI agents to help online merchants navigate a challenging economic landscape.
• A belief in the reinvention of shopping through resale and re-commerce platforms. She champions companies like Archive that move beyond a generic approach, helping brands build sustainable and profitable resale programs that integrate with their specific business objectives.
• Dedication to supporting underrepresented founders and diversifying the venture capital landscape. As a co-founder of BLCK VC, she frequently shares resources like the State of Black Venture Report and highlights opportunities like non-dilutive grants or development camps for minority founders.
• Active involvement in talent acquisition for portfolio companies, often leveraging her network to find specific roles. For instance, she explicitly asked her audience for recommendations on top marketing leads with ecommerce experience to place within her investments.