Cathy Gao

Cathy Gao is a Partner at Sapphire Ventures, where she invests in B2B AI and software, backing founders building AI-native companies that become core to how work gets done. She is particularly interested in companies that deliver measurable customer outcomes, build durable distribution, and compound into broader workflow ownership over time. Cathy serves on the boards of EliseAI, Blue J, Jeeva AI, Sword Health, and Medable. Before joining Sapphire, Cathy invested at AXA Venture Partners and began her career at TA Associates and Blackstone. She also spent time as an operator at Gusto, joining at the Series B, an experience that continues to shape how she partners with founders navigating rapid growth and strategic inflection points. Cathy studied economics and history at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude. Her perspectives on enterprise AI and software have been featured in Bloomberg, CNBC, and The Wall Street Journal.