Shawn Carolan headshotShawn Carolan headshot

Shawn Carolan

Partner

Consumer, Fintech

As an early-stage investor, Shawn focuses on companies that serve the “utilitarian consumer”—the individual seeking better, faster, and cheaper ways to move through life. Because basic human needs are persistent, he looks at how people are spending their money and time to assess the value and utility of a product or service. This approach inspired Shawn to invest early in Roku, Uber, and Chime, long before they became household names.

Shawn’s technical background helps him appreciate new technologies that unlock innovation and become the foundation upon which categories are built, occasionally leading him beyond consumer into cutting-edge enterprise investments as well. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with highest honors. He then joined Chicago startup Open Port Technology as a developer. After becoming a manager of software architecture, he wrote wire protocols in C++ and obtained a patent. He left to attend Stanford GSB, and joined Menlo in 2002 after receiving his MBA. In a career that has spanned investing, technology and management consulting, he’s learned many lessons. But it was in starting and running his own startup, Handle, that he had his own founder’s journey firsthand, giving him experience with the highs and lows that are impossible to fully comprehend from the boardroom.

For fun, Shawn enjoys hiking with his family, running with his wife, Jennifer (founder of Reach Capital), CrossFit, snowboarding, and motorcycling.

Supported by: Kelsey Shackelford, kelsey@menlovc.com

As an early-stage investor, Shawn focuses on companies that serve the “utilitarian consumer”—the individual seeking better, faster, and cheaper ways to move through life. Because basic human needs are persistent, he looks at how people are spending their money and time to assess the value and utility of a product or service. This approach inspired Shawn to invest early in Roku, Uber, and Chime, long before they became household names.

Shawn’s technical background helps him appreciate new technologies that unlock innovation and become the foundation upon which categories are built, occasionally leading him beyond consumer into cutting-edge enterprise investments as well. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with highest honors. He then joined Chicago startup Open Port Technology as a developer. After becoming a manager of software architecture, he wrote wire protocols in C++ and obtained a patent. He left to attend Stanford GSB, and joined Menlo in 2002 after receiving his MBA. In a career that has spanned investing, technology and management consulting, he’s learned many lessons. But it was in starting and running his own startup, Handle, that he had his own founder’s journey firsthand, giving him experience with the highs and lows that are impossible to fully comprehend from the boardroom.

For fun, Shawn enjoys hiking with his family, running with his wife, Jennifer (founder of Reach Capital), CrossFit, snowboarding, and motorcycling.

Supported by: Kelsey Shackelford, kelsey@menlovc.com

Investments

Our Portfolio
chime_logo
chime_logo

Chime helps members avoid bank fees, save money automatically, and lead healthier financial lives.

Milestones
  • 2012 Founded
  • 2018 Partnered, Series C
JUMP logoAcquired by Uber
JUMP logo

JUMP is a dockless scooter and electric bike sharing system.

Milestones
  • 2010 Founded
  • 2017 Partnered, Series A
  • 2018 Acquired by Uber
jump_graphic
Monarch logo
Monarch logo

Monarch is a money management platform that helps users create a financial plan, budget, and track their goals.

Milestones
  • 2018 Founded
  • 2021 Partnered, Series A
Monarch dashboard
openspace
openspace

OpenSpace provides next-generation, 360º photo documentation for jobsites, powerful integrations, and the smartest analytics tools in the industry.

Milestones
  • 2017 Founded
  • 2020 Partnered, Series B
openspace_graphic
roku-logo NASDAQ: ROKU
roku-logo

Roku pioneered streaming TV, connecting users to content they love, enabling content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and providing advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers.

Milestones
  • 2002 Founded
  • 2008 Partnered, Series C
  • 2017 IPO; NASDAQ: ROKU
roku_graphic
siriAcquired by Apple
siri

Siri was a voice recognition company spun out of the non-profit institute SRI International. It launched its Siri virtual personal assistant app in February 2010, two months before it was acquired by Apple.

Milestones
  • 2007 Founded
  • 2008 Partnered
  • 2010 Acquired
siri_graphic
shipbob
shipbob

ShipBob is a tech-enabled 3PL that offers simple, fast, and affordable e-commerce fulfillment for direct-to-consumer brands.

Milestones
  • 2014 Founded
  • 2018 Partnered, Series C
uberNYSE: UBER
uber

Uber innovates at the intersection of mobile technology, transportation, and logistics. Uber provides mobility-as-a-service with ride-sharing, food and package delivery, couriers, and freight transportation.

Milestones
  • 2009 Founded
  • 2011 Partnered, Series B
  • 2019 IPO; NYSE: UBER
uber_graphic

Anycart delivers groceries and offers home cooks over 250 recipes with step-by-step cooking videos.

Milestones
  • 2019 Founded
  • 2019 Partnered, Seed
  • 2022 Acquired by Weee! Inc.
anycart_graphic
Anycart
Anycart delivers groceries and offers home cooks over 250 recipes with step-by-step cooking videos.
Acquired by Weee! Inc.
anycart 1

Arc is electrifying the world of boating, starting with high-performance watersport boats.

Milestones
  • 2021 Founded
  • 2023 Partnered, Series B
Arc Boats graphic
Arc
Arc is electrifying the world of boating, starting with high-performance watersport boats.
Arc Boats logo

Chime helps members avoid bank fees, save money automatically, and lead healthier financial lives.

Milestones
  • 2012 Founded
  • 2018 Partnered, Series C
Chime
Chime helps members avoid bank fees, save money automatically, and lead healthier financial lives.
chime_logo

CinemaNow was an international over-the-top (OTT) provider of on-demand, internet streaming media.

Milestones
  • 1999 Founded
  • 2004 Partnered, Series A
  • 2008 Acquired by Sonic Solutions
CinemaNow
CinemaNow was an international over-the-top (OTT) provider of on-demand, internet streaming media.
Acquired by Sonic Solutions

Epic! is the leading digital library for kids 12 and under, where they can explore their interests and learn with instant, unlimited access to 40,000 high-quality ebooks, audiobooks, learning videos, and quizzes.

Milestones
  • 2013 Founded
  • 2014 Partnered, Series A
  • 2021 Acquired by BYJU’s
epic_graphic
Epic!
Epic! is the leading digital library for kids 12 and under, where they can explore their interests and learn with instant, unlimited access to 40,000 high-quality ebooks, audiobooks, learning videos, and quizzes.
Acquired by BYJU's

IMVU is an online metaverse and social network where users can create 3D avatars and connect and chat with other people around the world.

Milestones
  • 2004 Founded
  • 2005 Partnered, Series B
imvu_graphic
IMVU
IMVU is an online metaverse and social network where users can create 3D avatars and connect and chat with other people around the world.
logo_white_large_transparent

JUMP is a dockless scooter and electric bike sharing system.

Milestones
  • 2010 Founded
  • 2017 Partnered, Series A
  • 2018 Acquired by Uber
jump_graphic
JUMP
JUMP is a dockless scooter and electric bike sharing system.
Acquired by Uber
JUMP logo

Kabata creates haptic, AI-powered smart dumbbells that allow exercisers to have an optimized strength training workout.

Milestones
  • 2020 Founded
  • 2023 Partnered, Seed
Kabata smart dumbbells
Kabata
Kabata creates haptic, AI-powered smart dumbbells that allow exercisers to have an optimized strength training workout.
Kabata logo

Kinetic is ushering in the next generation of mobility (EVs, AVs) with a network of highly automated service centers.

Milestones
  • 2022 Founded
  • 2024 Partnered, Series B
Kinetic
Kinetic is ushering in the next generation of mobility (EVs, AVs) with a network of highly automated service centers.
Kinetic logo

Monarch is a money management platform that helps users create a financial plan, budget, and track their goals.

Milestones
  • 2018 Founded
  • 2021 Partnered, Series A
Monarch dashboard
Monarch
Monarch is a money management platform that helps users create a financial plan, budget, and track their goals.
Monarch logo

OpenSpace provides next-generation, 360º photo documentation for jobsites, powerful integrations, and the smartest analytics tools in the industry.

Milestones
  • 2017 Founded
  • 2020 Partnered, Series B
openspace_graphic
OpenSpace
OpenSpace provides next-generation, 360º photo documentation for jobsites, powerful integrations, and the smartest analytics tools in the industry.
openspace

Orro is an easy-to-use smart lighting system for the home.

Milestones
  • 2015 Founded
  • 2016 Partnered, Series A
orro_graphic
Orro
Orro is an easy-to-use smart lighting system for the home.
Orro

PlaySpan's payments platform handled transactions for digital goods in online games, digital media, and social networks around the world.

Milestones
  • 2006 Founded
  • 2007 Partnered, Series A
  • 2011 Acquired by Visa
PlaySpan
PlaySpan's payments platform handled transactions for digital goods in online games, digital media, and social networks around the world.
Acquired by Visa
playspan 1

Roku pioneered streaming TV, connecting users to content they love, enabling content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and providing advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers.

Milestones
  • 2002 Founded
  • 2008 Partnered, Series C
  • 2017 IPO; NASDAQ: ROKU
roku_graphic
Roku
Roku pioneered streaming TV, connecting users to content they love, enabling content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and providing advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers.
NASDAQ: ROKU
roku-logo

Scan is an AR experience that senses, enhances, and transforms the physical world, merging entertainment, information, and utility.

Milestones
  • 2011 Founded
  • 2011 Partnered, Seed
  • 2014 Acquired by Snap, Inc.
Scan
Scan is an AR experience that senses, enhances, and transforms the physical world, merging entertainment, information, and utility.
Acquired by Snap, Inc.

ShipBob is a tech-enabled 3PL that offers simple, fast, and affordable e-commerce fulfillment for direct-to-consumer brands.

Milestones
  • 2014 Founded
  • 2018 Partnered, Series C
ShipBob
ShipBob is a tech-enabled 3PL that offers simple, fast, and affordable e-commerce fulfillment for direct-to-consumer brands.
shipbob

Siri was a voice recognition company spun out of the non-profit institute SRI International. It launched its Siri virtual personal assistant app in February 2010, two months before it was acquired by Apple.

Milestones
  • 2007 Founded
  • 2008 Partnered
  • 2010 Acquired
siri_graphic
Siri
Siri was a voice recognition company spun out of the non-profit institute SRI International. It launched its Siri virtual personal assistant app in February 2010, two months before it was acquired by Apple.
Acquired by Apple
siri

Telenav is a provider of consumer location-based services (LBS), enterprise LBS and automotive LBS. Telenav’s solutions provide consumers, wireless service providers, enterprises and automakers with location-specific, real-time, personalized services.

Milestones
  • 1999 Founded
  • 2006 Partnered, Series E
  • 2010 IPO; NASDAQ: TNAV
telenav_graphic
TeleNav
Telenav is a provider of consumer location-based services (LBS), enterprise LBS and automotive LBS. Telenav’s solutions provide consumers, wireless service providers, enterprises and automakers with location-specific, real-time, personalized services.
NASDAQ: TNAV
Telenav logo

Uber innovates at the intersection of mobile technology, transportation, and logistics. Uber provides mobility-as-a-service with ride-sharing, food and package delivery, couriers, and freight transportation.

Milestones
  • 2009 Founded
  • 2011 Partnered, Series B
  • 2019 IPO; NYSE: UBER
uber_graphic
Uber
Uber innovates at the intersection of mobile technology, transportation, and logistics. Uber provides mobility-as-a-service with ride-sharing, food and package delivery, couriers, and freight transportation.
NYSE: UBER
uber

The Unagi is the world's first luxury electric scooter for adults. It's lightweight, foldable, and just beautiful.

Milestones
  • 2018 Founded
  • 2019 Partnered, Seed
unagi_graphic
Unagi
The Unagi is the world's first luxury electric scooter for adults. It's lightweight, foldable, and just beautiful.
unagi

Whisper Aero makes next-generation components for drones and aircrafts, allowing them to operate more cleanly, efficiently, and quietly than ever before.

Milestones
  • 2020 Founded
  • 2021 Partnered, Seed
Whisper Aero
Whisper Aero makes next-generation components for drones and aircrafts, allowing them to operate more cleanly, efficiently, and quietly than ever before.
Whisper Aero logo

YuMe was a leading independent provider of digital video brand advertising solutions.

Milestones
  • 2004 Founded
  • 2010 Partnered
  • 2013 IPO; NYSE: YUME
YuMe
YuMe was a leading independent provider of digital video brand advertising solutions.
NYSE: YUME