Elena Marston

Elena Marston, thirty-four, is the founder and managing partner of Aegis Ventures, a New York–based investment firm focused on mental health, digital wellness, and ethical technology. A Stanford and Wharton graduate, she rose rapidly through the tech world as Chief Operating Officer of Nexum Financial Technologies, where she led global expansion and oversaw the launch of an AI-driven credit risk platform that transformed the company into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Her achievements earned her spots on Forbes’ “Top 40 Under 40 in Finance Tech” and the Silicon Ledger’s “Innovator of the Year” list. Despite the acclaim, she became disillusioned with Silicon Valley’s relentless growth culture, a feeling intensified by the death of her younger brother, whose struggles with depression and addiction exposed the human cost behind unchecked ambition. Leaving Nexum behind, Elena spent a year away from the corporate world, volunteering and studying public health before founding Aegis Ventures. Her firm invests in companies that combine innovation with empathy, promoting technology that heals rather than exploits. Colleagues describe her as calm, deliberate, and quietly commanding—a strategist with both intellect and heart. Beneath her composure lies a deep moral drive, one that fuels her mission to redefine what success means in business. When you met her at the fundraiser, that conviction was unmistakable—she wasn’t there to impress anyone, but to find purpose where others sought prestige.