Lauren Kolodny, a partner at Acrew Capital, has always been a strong advocate for technology’s ability to make financial services more accessible to the general public.
In 2016, when the emerging neobank Chime faced challenges in convincing investors of its potential to serve the working class, Kolodny was the sole VC out of a hundred who believed in the company. She provided a $9 million Series A extension when Chime was on the brink of running out of funds.
This risky investment paid off significantly, as Chime recently went public with a valuation of $14.5 billion.
Kolodny, a three-time Forbes Midas list honoree, remains dedicated to investing in technological solutions that empower consumers to optimize their financial resources.
She recently led a $20 million Series A funding round for Alix, a startup that utilizes AI to streamline the estate settlement process.
Alix’s founder, Alexandra Mysoor, was inspired to create the platform after personally experiencing the challenges of settling a family estate. Mysoor spent 900 hours over 18 months dealing with tasks like asset transfers, 401K management, account cancellations, and asset distribution.
Mysoor’s frustrating experience led her to develop AI-driven solutions that automate document scanning, form completion, and communication with financial institutions.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco
|
October 27-29, 2025
When Kolodny discovered Alix’s mission, she was deeply moved by the potential impact of the platform. She recognized that despite predictions of significant wealth transfer to younger generations, estate settlement processes remained burdensome and outdated.
While some companies like Empathy offer support for closing accounts during bereavement, Kolodny found that there was a lack of comprehensive estate settlement services.
Kolodny believes that AI-powered startups like Alix will revolutionize financial services and administrative tasks, making them accessible to a broader audience beyond the wealthy elite.
Alix’s pricing structure is based on a 1% fee of the estate’s value, with costs ranging from $9,000 to $12,000 for inheritances under $1 million, depending on the complexity of the estate.
