VC Spotlight: Lisa Lewin, Primary
As part of our ongoing series highlighting key players in this space, we turn our attention to Lisa Lewin, a Partner at Primary, cofounder of the Factor Fellowship, and a member of the VC Council for the Startup:NYC initiative. As a member of the Council, she advises on the direction of the program, including helping to select participating founders and deciding on the themes of each cohort. (Our inaugural season focused on health and wellness tech companies.)
We caught up with Lisa to discuss her career, the Factor fellowship, and how she leverages her experience as a CEO to advise and empower Primary’s portfolio companies.
Where did your career start?
I’ve been an entrepreneur and intrapreneur my entire career, mostly in edtech. I was General Assembly's first non-founder CEO, led global digital innovation at Pearson and McGraw-Hill, and launched and scaled my own edtech startup, without venture funding, which taught me a lot. If we’re going all the way back, I started my career as a product manager, building web 1.0 digital products for a big data tech company.
You joined Primary in 2023 — what was the catalyst for doing so?
After years of operating, I wanted to support the next wave of mission-driven entrepreneurs and innovators in New York. I’ve always loved the startup community here. I remember hanging out at the original GA campus in Flatiron as a founder myself – circa 2010 or 2011 – and the vibe was electric. All of these ex-bankers, ex-consultants, techs and creatives wanting to launch their own thing. It had the buzzy energy of the Valley but was so much more diverse in every way: industries, cultures, all of it. Post-business school, I considered moving to the Valley, but SF felt too one-note: you were either in tech or invisible. New York had more layers, more contours to it. And Primary has been such a catalyst and booster of the NYC startup scene, particularly its founders. Joining Primary felt like a natural evolution.
What is your role at Primary?
I lead our CEO advisory practice: mentoring early-stage founders on their path to becoming great CEOs. We know the pressures founders face: making high-stakes decisions on the fly while raising capital, building teams and culture, pivoting strategies, among other things. My colleagues and I provide targeted advice and help them navigate their biggest challenges and opportunities. Having a deep bench of seasoned C-level executives is pretty unique at Seed and one of Primary’s big differentiators.
What’s a recent portfolio company win that you’re especially excited about?
Just one? That’s tough. I'd say Dandy: what they’ve been able to achieve with their AI and robotics investments is mind-blowing. They're automating intricate processes for producing dental restorations (crowns, bridges, dentures, et cetera) with exponentially greater precision and cost effectiveness. If you don’t think accessible dental care is important or exciting, just try job hunting with missing front teeth.
I'm drawn to innovators pushing boundaries where innovation meets impact — be it healthcare, climate, education, civic tech, or any field advancing the greater good. Dandy is one of those companies.
The Factor Fellowship launched in 2024 and focuses on “building an innovation economy reflective of NYC’s diversity, hustle, and ambition.” How is the Factor Fellowship working to achieve its mission?Every startup needs great talent, and the founders we meet want a diverse candidate pool. But most early stage companies lack the resources and expertise to attract top flight talent, especially from underrepresented groups. So we’ve created a platform to uncover so-called underdog talent - individuals who often outperform in startups but struggle to break into existing networks.
Partnering with MLT, we launched the Factor fellowship: a 16-week program covering startup operations, mindset, and entrepreneurship. We selected 20 exceptional fellows, representing the best of NYC’s up-and-coming talent. To hire a Factor fellow, contact tom@factornyc.org and visit our website to learn more and apply for our next cohort!
What are some of the top resources you recommend for founders who are beginning their startup journeys?
Good to Great by Jim Collins, because every great founder is a great strategist. How to Host the Best Meeting of the Week because effective meetings are the biggest boost — and bad meetings the biggest drag — on productivity. And How’s Work? with Ester Perel, because cofounder relationships are as consequential as marriages and should be understood as such.
What’s your favorite/most frequently used AI tool?
Perplexity and Granola are my constant companions.
You have a founder or LP in from out of town… where are you taking them?
Casa Carmen or the Carnegie Club.
Choose one: power breakfast, power lunch, or work dinner. Where?Power cocktails at Tusk Bar, or power coffee at the Ritz NoMad.
And, because we always ask our founders… what's the best slice of pizza in NYC?
I'm gluten intolerant, so I’m definitely not the person to ask! But for any gluten avoiders out there, if you’re on the Upper West Side, Cafe Fiorello’s gluten free signature thin crust is my family’s favorite — gluten-free and gluten-eaters alike.
