With a career spanning the UK, Europe, and Israel, Jacqueline Cegla has established herself as a leading Strategic Business and Investment Advisor known for her ability to bridge strategic, operational, and investor perspectives. She is a strategic leader who advises companies at both the early and growth stages that sell either to other businesses or directly to consumers. As a trusted advisor, she works closely with management teams at leading technology companies to develop data-driven, scalable growth strategies, attract aligned investors, and expand internationally.
Jacqueline studied Engineering at Imperial College London, ranked 2nd globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025, graduating with honors. She also earned a Business degree from Stanford University, where she was one of only two students to receive a university-awarded scholarship. Her education at two of the world’s leading universities sharpened both her engineering rigor and strategic business mindset, forming the foundation of her analytical and forward-thinking approach. Before founding her strategic business and investment advisory practice, she was a Principal at Hearst Ventures, where she led investments end-to-end, from sourcing and due diligence to portfolio management and board engagement. Before being an investor, she worked with the digital venture arm of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), gaining valuable strategic and operational experience. BCG is recognized as one of the world’s top four consulting firms, as most recently ranked by Vault.
Today, through her independent advisory practice, Jacqueline leverages this deep experience to counsel technology leaders on fundraising and growth.
Her work has earned widespread recognition from industry leaders. Coen van Hees, CEO of Instant Commerce, the last portfolio company where Jacqueline led the deal on behalf of Hearst Ventures, shared:
“Jacqueline was instrumental in shaping our fundraising strategy. She helped us refine our story, connect with high-profile investors who truly fit our stage and culture, and guided the process with remarkable professionalism. She’s both strategic and a real pleasure to work with.”
Similarly, Peter Edgar, former CFO of Huboo, where Jacqueline served as a board member and played a key role in the investment process, recalled:
“As a board representative, Jacqueline led a strategic business review of our growth and profitability, driving clear, actionable recommendations. Her investor mindset and strong network were central to closing a key funding round. What truly distinguishes her is her commitment. She goes beyond the mandate, deeply caring about both the people and the outcomes she drives.” Huboo raised an additional $160m in funding after Hearst Ventures’ initial investment.
One of the most common mistakes founders make is spending too much time with the wrong investors. Jacqueline helps leadership teams prepare for a structured fundraising approach and attract capital from the right institutional and private investors, ensuring strong alignment between the company’s vision and investors’ values. By clarifying strategic priorities, refining investment narratives, and connecting with the right partners upfront, she helps companies secure smart capital that accelerates. As an investment advisor, Jacqueline combines strategic acumen with an investor’s mindset.
Her background as an investment professional in venture capital and strategic advisory has also positioned her as a key ally in organizational development. Jacqueline works closely with leadership to strengthen management teams, evaluate structures, and support strategic hires that enable growth and resilience. She also assists in post-investment implementation, ensuring that key performance indicators are implemented and met on time according to the strategic vision.
Jacqueline is highly focused on reviewing and shaping business plans, ensuring strategic assumptions are sound and data-driven. Known for her analytical approach, she combines internal company insights with third-party market data to validate key growth drivers. Acting as a fractional strategic business advisor, she helps founders move from reactive to proactive, ensuring that business plans are well implemented and that key KPIs are met. Jacqueline views the business plan as the engine of growth, the foundation guiding decisions on unit economics, sales and marketing spend, hiring priorities, and fundraising. A predictable, data-backed plan, she notes, enables founders to make the right moves at the right time by maximizing revenue potential and maintaining a disciplined cost approach.
A firm believer in the power of innovation, Jacqueline leverages her extensive network of leading entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists across the globe to gain proprietary market insights to help businesses adapt and thrive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. One of the things that truly sets her apart is her global network across several key technology hubs in the U.S., the UK, Europe, and Israel. When advising on cross-border expansion, Jacqueline helps organizations anticipate and overcome challenges such as market entry, cultural differences, regulatory complexity, and team localization. Her international network, spanning legal, financial, and operational partners, provides companies with the on-the-ground support needed to establish a sustainable presence abroad.
Jacqueline Cegla continues to shape the next generation of growth-oriented businesses, fostering innovation, job creation, and cross-border collaboration that strengthens the global economy. At the core of Jacqueline’s work is a commitment to purposeful growth, empowering leaders to scale intelligently, build strong foundations, and create lasting impact. Her goal remains constant: to help founders accelerate growth through clarity, strategy, and trusted partnership.
