Full story
Lightspeed’s New Hire
Lightspeed Venture Partners has appointed tech content creator Claire Zau as Partner & New Media, a move the firm says began with an Instagram direct message.
“Claire Zau, an investor and popular tech content creator”
TechCrunchTechCrunch reported that Lightspeed partners Josh Machiz and Zau stopped by the Equity studio to discuss the strategy behind their growing social media presence and how it started with a direct message on Instagram.
TechCrunchZau told Equity, “A lot of people want to participate in the future and are excited about technology,” adding, “They just don’t have the facts presented to them in an accessible way.”
TechCrunch also said Zau has more than 100,000 followers on TikTok and over 250,000 followers on Instagram, where she breaks down the day’s biggest tech trends.
In the same TechCrunch account, Machiz said, “If you’re a startup, it’s harder to get your story out there.”
TechCrunchFrom DMs to Deal Flow
Whalesbook said Lightspeed Venture Partners is unrelated to the publicly traded company Lightspeed Commerce Inc. (LSPD), and that the recruitment or strategic direction of the private VC firm has no direct impact on the share price or financial performance of the public company.
Whalesbook added that Zau previously worked in venture capital at GSV Ventures and co-hosts the AI-focused podcast “Lightwork,” while also managing the “Lightspeed Launch” program.
TechCrunch described Zau as part of a new class of venture operators using social media to connect with new audiences, including people who are “tech curious” and future founders who may then turn to Lightspeed for a check.
In TechCrunch’s account, Machiz said the media environment makes it harder for startups to get coverage, noting, “There’s less and less traditional journalism out there because of layoffs and the consolidation in media.”
TechCrunch further quoted Zau saying, “It’s so helpful to have basically real-time visibility into how people are using these technologies and what kinds of narratives are hitting.”
Hiring and Ethics
A separate report in Межа. Новини України. said Lightspeed recruited a new employee through a private Instagram message, with recruiters noticing the candidate’s activity on the platform and reaching out directly.
“work began in July 2026”
That account said the initial contact was made through a private DM, after which the two sides began discussing a potential position and the candidate’s fit for the requirements.
The report stated that work began in July 2026 and that the company notes the new employee joined in a remote capacity, with the option of working with the office depending on project needs.
It also said the company adds that the case demonstrates a shift in hiring practices: social media is becoming a more active channel for finding talent, while “personalization, responsiveness, and adherence to ethical standards” remain essential.
TechCrunch’s Equity interview framed the same broader theme as a strategy to provide “another opportunity to tell your story,” with Machiz saying, “And so we hope to also be able to provide in the new media world another opportunity to tell your story.”
