Carolyn C. Harkins, Founder and CEO

 

Carolyn is uniquely qualified to advise early and growth stage companies on financing strategy, deal execution, and growth initiatives.  She has more than two decades of transaction and advisory experience, including eighteen years as a principal investor. 

 

Carolyn is proud to serve as an independent investment committee member for Blue Highway Growth Capital.  Previously, she worked as an in-house advisor and Principal for TL Ventures, a $1.5 billion venture capital firm, where she invested in early stage software and services companies and served as a director and observer on portfolio company boards to help management teams execute strategic initiatives.  From 2009 through 2017, Carolyn also served as a senior financial advisor and partner for Penn Mezzanine, a regional mezzanine and subordinated equity fund that she co-founded. Carolyn also advised JDRF, the world's largest source of funding for type 1 diabetes research, in launching a venture philanthropy fund.  

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She lives in suburban Philadelphia where she and her husband are active in their local community.  In addition to supporting JDRF, Carolyn serves on the leadership advisory council at The Agnes Irwin School and frequently sponsors events for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.  She is a graduate of Duke University where she earned a degree in Economics.