Julie Sandler is a venture partner at Pioneer Square Labs (PSL) and co-founder of PSL Ventures, PSL’s venture capital firm. She served as general partner and managing director of PSL for nearly a decade, investing in pre-seed and seed-stage Pacific Northwest companies across AI, productivity, fintech, logistics, and the future of work, with a long-standing interest in digital solutions serving women and underserved communities.

Julie has spent her career at the intersection of innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, education, policy, and community, investing. Previously a partner at Madrona, Julie has worked with hundreds of startups across the Pacific Northwest innovation ecosystem. She has served on the boards of dozens of companies, including HouseWhisper, Rover (NASDAQ:ROVR, then acquired by Blackstone), Outgo (acquired by DAT), Shipium, Super AI, Integris (acquired by OneTrust), and Julep (acquired by Warburg Pincus). She worked with her now-partner at PSL, Greg Gottesman, on the founding of Rover while at Madrona. She also led PSL’s investments in Read AI, Overland AI, and Arrived, and helped originate the firm's investments in Starfish Space and Archera.

Earlier in her career, Julie managed worldwide digital marketing for Amazon’s Kindle ebook business. She also led both consumer and enterprise product launches at Amazon Kindle, Seattle startup TeachStreet.com, and Accenture. In 2014, she launched the Seattle Entrepreneurial Women’s Network, an early informal networking organization for women entrepreneurs in the region.

Julie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with dual bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and earned her MBA with honors from Harvard Business School. Since 2014, she has taught entrepreneurship at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, where she has been named a multi-time departmental “Star Teacher” based on student course ratings.

Julie is a Presidential Leadership Scholar and has spent two decades in wide-ranging leadership and board roles across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has served on the Washington Roundtable for more than a decade, including as Chair in 2025, and serves as a board director for the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship.

A frequent keynote speaker and commentator, Julie has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Forbes, TechCrunch, and Inc. Magazine. She has delivered keynote addresses at industry conferences, large nonprofit fundraisers, and WE Day. Her recognitions include Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2026 “Woman of Influence” and “Power 100,” GeekWire’s “Geek of the Year” and “Hire of the Year,” AdWeek “Brand Star,” and PSBJ’s 40 Under 40."

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