Ilene Smith

Ilene Smith is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, mortgage banking, and early-stage venture capital. She began her career in mortgage finance where she founded and led Mountain Mortgage of Crested Butte, an independent mortgage company, and went on to develop and exit multiple real estate projects. She later joined First National Bank of Arizona, where she managed wholesale lending expansion, while continuing to build her personal investment portfolio. Since 2022, Ilene has invested in more than 40 early-stage companies across technology, consumer, and alternative sectors. She is also the author of Moving Beyond Trauma and previously practiced as a trauma therapist.