Dorothy Chang's journey from Long Island to becoming a pivotal figure in the New York tech ecosystem is a story of adaptability, perseverance, and innovation. Growing up with high expectations in a musical family, she found her way into PR and tech, eventually transitioning into venture capital. Dorothy's career highlights include working at renowned firms like Edelman and Brew, co-founding Liberty City Ventures, and playing a crucial role in Foursquare's pivot to a data intelligence company. Currently, she focuses on supporting early-stage founders through Lynx Collective and Next Wave Ventures, leveraging her extensive network and expertise to bridge gaps in the startup ecosystem. Key Takeaways Adaptability in Career Shifts: Dorothy's career path showcases the importance of being open to new opportunities and industries, from PR to tech to venture capital. Supporting Underrepresented Founders: Through Lynx Collective, Dorothy emphasizes the need to create pathways for diverse founders who might not have direct access to startup ecosystems. The Power of Networking Building strong relationships across different sectors has been crucial to Dorothy's success, from PR to venture capital. Importance of Mental Health for Founders: Dorothy highlights the often-overlooked aspect of mental health in the startup world and the value of peer support. Embracing Technological Change: From the early days of social media to the current AI boom, staying ahead of technological trends has been a consistent theme in Dorothy's career. Notable Quotes "You don't build company culture by buying a ping pong table. That's not culture." "I tried to give my team so much autonomy that it was too much stress for them." "Founders need to find the people that are going to disagree with them. It's really important." "You have to hustle harder in the startup world and try to make a little something out of nothing." "We're looking for ways to connect founders and investors, making it easier for early-stage founders to get the access they need."