Michelle Wie West’s drive to win emerged early. She first teed off at the young age of four, and was considered a golf prodigy by just 10 years old—when she became the youngest woman to qualify for and go on to win the USGA Women’s Amateur Championship. She turned pro just before turning 16 and has five LPGA event titles to her name. She won two of those tournaments while earning a degree from Stanford University.
Wie West went to Stanford at the same time as Snapchat founder Evan Spiegel, just as Silicon Valley was booming. That environment sparked her entrepreneurial interests, but training, touring and playing in the LPGA required undivided attention. Today, that spark has grown to a full flame.
In 2020, following the birth of her daughter and amid the onset of the pandemic, Wie West took a hiatus from pro golf. She prioritized family and healing a long-standing wrist injury during that two-year period. This pause gave her some breathing room to consider opportunities to get in the startup game as an angel investor.
“I always wanted to be part of a startup, but that’s an all-consuming endeavor and I’ve been busy with golf for as long as I can remember. In my 30s, and as a mom, I discovered that being an angel investor is the next best thing to being a founder. I get to be the ‘fun aunt,’ offering intellectual and financial capital without the time-consuming day-to-day grind.”
Michelle Wie West and PitchBook partnered in 2021 as she got deeper into investing. PitchBook helps Wie West come to meetings prepared with deep insights on the vertical, the founder, officers of the company, its competitors and funding sources. With PitchBook on her side, Wie West goes into new business meetings armed with information and ready to win.
“PitchBook makes it possible to get all the fundamentals out of the way so that my time in the room with the founder and leadership is less about a PowerPoint presentation or prospectus and more about personal connection. I want to know what drives them. I want to see their eyes light up when they talk about what they’re doing.”
PitchBook provides the data. Michelle Wie West adds instinct. Winning investments are the yield. Here is what Wie West is looking at when considering becoming an angel investor.
Driven to succeed
Wie West knows a thing or two about drive. Driven to compete at the highest levels of golf for two decades, it’s no surprise she looks for startup founders who are driven too. From her vantage point, the conditions will always change. You can’t control what consumers want. World events (a pandemic, for example) can cause a 180-degree shift in priorities overnight. Business trends can also turn on a dime.
Wie West seeks companies with strong founders. A founder who is knowledgeable and driven to succeed is a founder that she can identify with and get behind. She believes that the success or failure of a company is driven in large part by the tenacity, drive, commitment and resourcefulness of its leaders.
PitchBook helps her take a deep dive on founders and their history growing companies. Products and services are subject to change and fine-tuning. People are who they are.
Supporting diversity
Intent on being a driving force for change, Michelle Wie West has become a champion for equity for women and minorities—in sports and beyond. As a child of Korean immigrants, Wie West is keen to invest in companies founded and led by females and minorities, and those who support diversity in business.
Sustainability minded
Having grown up in Hawaii and traveled the globe playing professional golf, Wie West has a deep appreciation for the environment and desire to protect it. She became a mom in 2020, which only heightened concerns for the future wellbeing of the planet.
“Professional athletes have to be super dialed in on their health and fitness. To me, sustainability and wellness go hand and hand. I want to use and consume products that are safe for my body, my community and the world. Naturally, my investments reflect that priority.”
Supporting access to sports
As an angel investor, Wie West looks for opportunities to enhance access to sports for underserved populations. To that end, she supports nonprofits that offer education, instruction and equipment to diverse communities, breaking down barriers to participation in sports. The Hoodies for Golf campaign that went viral at the end of 2021 raised $390K for charities, making it possible for more minorities and girls to get into the game of golf.
“I would love to see more girls get into sports, especially the white, male-dominated game of golf. There’s significantly less time, money and manpower invested in women’s sports. For that to change, we have to appeal to girls at a young age and open the door for them to discover and grow their skills.”
Michelle Wie West’s caddie off the course
PitchBook helps drive well-informed investment decisions as Wie West takes on the title of investor and broadens her personal portfolio.
Today, Michelle Wie West is invested in a handful of consumer products companies, including Blueland, producer of environmentally responsible cleaning and personal care products. In May of this year, she became an investor in Supergoop!, which delivers safe and environmentally friendly skincare products.
Sports-related investments to date include Tonal, a digital fitness platform; SportsBox AI, a mobile app to help users achieve their sports and fitness goals; and LA Golf, manufacturer of performance-driven and technologically advanced golf shafts.
With PitchBook on her side, Wie West has the opportunity to be a driving force for change as an angel investor, supporting hard-working people with bright ideas. PitchBook is proud to be Michelle Wie West’s caddie off the course.
