Stefan Lehmann-Karp, executive director and portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley Inclusive and Sustainable Ventures, will deliver a lecture as part of Innovation Gateway’s spring Startup 101 series on March 4 at the Delta Innovation Hub.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience across investment banking, venture capital and startup operations, Lehmann-Karp leads strategic support for early-stage companies at Morgan Stanley. His work integrates capital access, mentorship and ecosystem-building to help founders navigate growth, scale and long-term impact.
Throughout his career, Lehmann-Karp has held senior leadership roles for venture-backed startups, served in strategic roles at Bridgewater Associates and worked in capital markets at Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers. He has helped companies raise money, scale operations and navigate major business decisions, while advising founders at critical inflection points such as product-market fit, structuring the company and planning for long-term growth or exit. He earned his master’s in finance from Columbia Business School and his bachelor’s in government and international relations from Cornell University.
Lehmann-Karp’s lecture will examine how corporate venture capital operates and why it differs from traditional venture investing. The talk will explore how corporate venture teams make investment decisions, what motivates their strategies and how they balance financial returns with strategic alignment. Attendees also will learn how startups can better position themselves to engage with corporate investors.
In addition to his investment work, Lehmann-Karp is deeply committed to mentorship and talent development, offering guidance and strategic introductions to early-career professionals and startup CEOs.
“Large companies can support founders in many ways, from mentorship to accelerators to commercial partnerships, and corporate venture capital is just one pathway,” Lehmann-Karp said. “The real value in working with a CVC goes beyond capital: a corporate partner can offer industry insights, customer relationships and resources that can accelerate a startup’s growth. To unlock that strategic value, founders need to understand the corporate partner’s priorities, incentives and decision-making frameworks, which often differ from those of institutional venture funds.”
The Startup 101 series provides participants with practical insight into how startups and investors operate, addressing topics such as business structure, financing, governance and investor engagement. Led by experienced practitioners, the series is designed to equip founders and aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools needed to navigate the venture development journey.
This lecture is part of the Signature Lecture Series, which features speakers noted nationally or internationally for their broad, multidisciplinary appeal and compelling bodies of work. Many of the lectures are supported by endowments, while others honor notable figures and milestones in the university’s history.
Lehmann-Karp’s lecture will take place from noon to 1 p.m. on March 4 at the Delta Innovation Hub. All Signature Lectures are free and open to the public. Capacity is limited for some lectures, with registration required.