Lindsay Karas Stencel
Partner
Lindsay is a partner in the firm’s Early Stage & Emerging Companies practice. She advises entrepreneurs, investors and fund managers on venture capital and startup matters, venture capital fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, federal and state securities filings and compliance, including public and private securities offerings, and corporate organization and governance matters.
Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Lindsay served as a partner and chief legal counsel at a Midwest-focused venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed, seed early stage and growth stage technology companies serving several industries. There, her efforts primarily focused on deal structuring, portfolio management, limited partner relations, fundraising and exit transactions.
Simultaneously, she ran her own private practice representing emerging and diverse venture fund managers across the country, startup clients and founders, investors, and small businesses, assisting with venture fund formation and strategy, strategic deal formation, unique deal structuring and other corporate legal matters.
She also acquired significant experience while serving as Chief Operating Officer and Fund Manager, and subsequently Chief Investment Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Managing Partner for a venture development organization in upstate New York, where she led that firm to have one of the most active seed funds in the country and spearheaded the formation and development of the largest seed fund in the history of the area.
Lindsay’s unique blend of legal, fundraising and operational experience as a founder and venture capitalist provides her with the ability to acutely understand the issues facing her venture and startup clients. She understands firsthand the matters most important to her clients and can creatively solve problems and efficiently design solutions to rapidly close transactions for investors and entrepreneurs alike.
Lindsay teaches “Venture Capital and Dealmaking” at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where she also frequently guest lectures on contract drafting and preferred securities issuances. She also owns her own fitness facility. Lindsay is a national speaker on topics of women and diversity and inclusion in finance, venture capital, venture capital deal structuring and startup investing.
Lindsay’s vast venture capital, startup and operational experience includes:
- Venture capital fund formation and structuring for numerous established and emerging funds across the U.S.
- SBIC fund formation
- Drafting, negotiation and oversight of over 1000 investor-side and company-side startup financings
- Oversight of state and federal compliance programs for venture capital funds across the U.S.
- Drafting, management and oversight of M&A transactions for venture capital funds throughout the Northeast and Midwest, including acquisitions of portfolio companies by Fortune 25 Companies
- As an investor, led the most active seed fund in the state of New York and one of the most active in the country
- Established fund investment policies and guidelines
- Has overseen hundreds of due diligence processes for investors and startup companies
- Co-founded a women-focused venture capital firm
- Co-founded an LGBTQ+ venture capital firm
- “SBA Releases New Rules on PPP Loan Forgiveness and SBA Review Process,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, May 27, 2020
- “SBA Releases PPP Loan Forgiveness Application and Related Instructions,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, May 19, 2020
- “SEC Proposes Rule Changes to Crowdfunding Regulations,” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Spring 2020
- Contributor, “How to Make It: Advice from Four Women Who Never Let the Challenges Stop Them,” ColumbusCEO, August 2019.
- “What VCs Are Thinking Now: A COVID Edition,” Innovate New Albany, May 15, 2020
- “Being Lindsay," Keynote Address to 500+ virtual attendees of Venture NY and the New York Business Plan Competition, April 30, 2020
- “Navigating the CARES Act,” Book+Street, April 2020
- “Conquering Columbus,” Podcast 183, December 2019
- “All You Need is a Seed: Startup Up Funding 101” Latitude 43North Podcast
- “State of Venture in Ohio,” Innovate New Albany, 2019
- Keynote Speaker, “Venture Capital in the Midwest,” Business Law Institute, Ohio Bar Association, 2019
- “Money, Power, Respect are the Key to Deals,” Columbus Startup Week, 2019
- Speaker, “Exploring What’s New in Alternative Investments and Private Placements,” Ohio Securities Conference, 2019
- “How to Deal with Power Plays; Winning the Meta Negotiation” with Kwame Christian, Esq., September 2019
- “Intentionally Investing in and Supporting Female Founders,” September 2019
- “Investing in Startups: A Deep Dive for Accredited Investors,” September 2019
- “Articulating Your Growth Story to Investors,” London Stock Exchange Group at Ohio University, June 2019
- “How to Finance Your Startup,” SelectUSA Investment Summit, Washington, D.C., June 2019
- “Women, Money & Tech,” Ithaca, NY through Upstate Capital Association, March 2019
- Selected for inclusion in Columbus Business First 40 under 40 class of 2020
- 2020 NVCA American Spirit Award Nominee
- 2019 Upstate Capital Investor of the Year
- 2019 Upstate Venture Connect Community Catalyst Award
- 2018 Upstate Capital Early Stage Dealmaker of the Year
- 2018 Upstate Venture Connect Community Catalyst Award Nominee
- 2017 Upstate Capital Early Stage Dealmaker of the Year Nominee
- 2016 “20 People to Know in Finance in Columbus, OH” Columbus Business First
- 2016 Named “5 of Ohio’s Most Trailblazing Attorneys,” Ohio Bar Association
Professional Associations
- Adjunct Professor, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, 2019-present
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Michigan Bar Association
- New York Bar Association
- Upstate Capital Association, Board Member
- Chairwoman, Venture NY Startup Selection Committee
- Board of Directors, Data Inventions, Inc.
- Board of Directors, Small Biz Cares, Inc.
Lindsay Karas Stencel brings enthusiasm and flair to Thompson HineColumbus CEO
May 28, 2020
Thompson Hine Hires Leading Venture Capitalist in Midwest - Lindsay Karas Stencel Joins as a Partner
March 02, 2020
Whiplash: A Look Back for the Week Ahead - Week 6
June 01, 2020
Whiplash: A Look Back for the Week Ahead - Week 5
May 18, 2020
Whiplash: A Look Back for the Week Ahead - Week 4
May 11, 2020