Initiative’s Fourth Leader Will Build on Two Impactful Years Led By Anna Barber of M13
LOS ANGELES – The leaders of PledgeLA, a coalition of hundreds of venture capital (VC) and tech leaders dedicated to making Los Angeles a global tech hub, have named Noramay Cadena, Managing Partner at Supply Change Capital, as its fourth chair. With continued support from the Annenberg Foundation and the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, PledgeLA has been a driving force for increasing access to capital, fostering talent, and strengthening the city’s innovation ecosystem since 2018.
Noramay Cadena takes the helm from Anna Barber of M13, a founding force behind PledgeLA’s bold mission to break down systemic barriers in tech who will continue shaping its future as Chair Emerita. During Barber’s tenure, PledgeLA achieved transformative milestones, including:
- The Venture Capital Data Report – A groundbreaking analysis of access to capital in Los Angeles, produced with UCLA Luskin School.
- The Venture Capital Fellowship – A nationally-recognized program launching new leaders into investing, with two alumni now working at the partner level.
- The GP + LP Connections Series – A catalyst for growth, facilitating over 80 meetings between VCs and potential backers in 2024.
- The PledgeLA Catalyst Awards – L.A.‘s premier honor for leaders driving capital access, innovation, and ecosystem growth.
PledgeLA’s Advisory Committee praised Cadena’s longstanding commitment to expanding access in tech and venture and her trajectory as a leader in Los Angeles.
“I’m thrilled to pass the baton to Noramay Cadena,” said Anna Barber. “She has a 10-year track record as an investor, and has worked for decades to foster a stronger and more diverse LA tech ecosystem. Her strategic vision and deep ties to the ecosystem make her the perfect leader to propel PledgeLA forward through its next phase of transformation and growth.”
Cadena co-founded Supply Change Capital in 2020 and raised an inaugural $40M venture capital fund to invest in technology to transform the food system. With offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, Supply Change has deployed over $20M across 23 companies to date – including eight in California.
“I am honored to take on this leadership role at such a critical time for Los Angeles’ tech and venture ecosystem,” said Noramay Cadena. “PledgeLA has set a powerful precedent for what we can accomplish when we’re rooted in data, focused on bridging opportunity gaps, and working together. I’m committed to building on this platform, strengthening strategic partnerships, and ensuring that Los Angeles continues to emerge as a premier global hub for innovation and investment.”
Entering its seventh year, PledgeLA is deepening its commitment to making Los Angeles a thriving tech ecosystem. This summer, a new cohort of VC Fellows will join local firms, helping to develop the next generation of investors who will fuel the region’s innovation economy. Additionally, building on the success of the GP + LP Connections Series, PledgeLA will expand its efforts to connect high-net-worth family offices with venture opportunities, ensuring that more capital stays in Los Angeles to support local leaders.
As part of its broader mission, PledgeLA remains dedicated to community resilience. PledgeLA members including Wonder Ventures kick-started the L.A. Tech Community Cares Fund, which has raised more than $1.1 million to aid individuals, families, small businesses, and workers affected by the January 2025 wildfires.
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About PledgeLA
PledgeLA is a coalition of hundreds of LA venture capital firms working to make Los Angeles a global tech hub that reflects the full breadth of the region’s innovation and talent. With high-impact programs including venture capital fellowships and GP-LP matchmaking, the group works to help better connect talent, opportunity, and capital in Greater Los Angeles.
About the Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment.
Noramay Cadena Bio
Noramay Cadenais the Managing Partner of Supply Change Capital, a venture capital firm investing in technology across the food system supply chain. Over the last 10 years, Noramay has invested in over 90 companies across industries and stages. Prior to her career as an investor, Noramay spent over a decade in the aerospace industry as an engineer and operations leader. In 2024, she was recognized as a Pioneer Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women. In 2022, she was recognized as one of ten women of influence in private markets by PEI. She’s also been named one of fifty-five rising star VCs who shook up the industry (2021), one of fifty renowned women in robotics (2020), and was named one of the top 100 influential Latinas in the United States by Latino Leaders Magazine from 2020-2022. She’s an original cofounder of Latinas in STEM (2013) and SomosVC (2019), a Kauffman Fellow, and holds three degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Anna Barber Bio
Anna is an Investing Partner at M13, where she leads investments in AI work automation and commerce. Prior to M13, Anna was the managing director of Techstars LA and a partner at The Fund LA. Anna has invested in over 100 early stage companies and is a former retail and commerce founder and operator herself. She’s a former tech founder, a certified executive coach, and a board member of portfolio companies Maven AGI, Source, Replenysh, Max Retail, Upwards, and AllVoices. Anna has been featured on Bloomberg TV and has been a speaker at Shoptalk and All Raise VC Summit. In 2023, she was listed in Forbes 50 over 50 and Business Insider’s Most Important VCs in Los Angeles. She received her bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Yale University and later earned her JD from Yale Law School. She’s a mother and stepmother to four members of Gen Z.
