Still, having a great go-to statement piece or a more structured look can give any VC the confidence boost they need to shake the right hands and land the hottest deals —and Business Insider's rising stars of venture capital have perfected their signature sense of style.

We asked this year's honorees to share their go-to "power-outfit" for when it's time to hop off Zoom calls and meet with their portfolio companies face-to-face, score a competitive startup deal, or speak at a conference with their industry peers. Many of this year's VC rising stars told Business Insider that their go-to power outfits included apparel like tailored sport coats or Chelsea boots, and more casual pieces like hoodies and well-fitting jeans. But ultimately, all of these outfits helped with one thing: inspiring confidence.

Dressing for everyday comfort

For most of this year's rising stars, comfort is the name of the game. Very few investors are wearing collared shirts with their jackets, opting instead to pair it with a t- shirt and jeans.

Nmachi Jidemna told Business Insider that for her everyday wear, her go-to was "usually a structured blazer with a relaxed pair of jeans."

Many investors on the list shared an interest in streetwear designers, too. "I would define my style as business/tech casual meets streetwear," said Javier Grevely, an investor at Wellington Management. "I like brands like Off-White, FOG, & Ralph Lauren; and typically embed them within my outfits."

Felicis' Tobi Coker prefers to ditch the sport coat for a Buzz Rickson bomber jacket, unless it's a more formal meeting.

Other investors, like Janelle Teng, like to show off their pride in their deals by rocking a "portfolio company t-shirt and leather jacket" while out and about.

Converse

But without a doubt, it wouldn't be a venture-capital power outfit without some kind of sneaker. Patron's Amber Atherton told Business Insider that she and Jason Yeh, the cofounder and general partner of the firm, compete over who has the "hypest" sneakers when they're in the office together.

Their choices vary from white Converse high-tops to running shoes that can double as practical footwear for outdoor meetings. "I'm a very big walking-meeting person. More than just good exercise, walking meetings have been proven to boost energy levels, productivity, and creativity levels," said Ashley Paston.

Surprisingly, no one mentioned a once-favored tech community favorite: Allbirds.

Sharper looks for conferences and public events

For days where networking is the focus, most of the up-and-coming VCs will still swap their jeans for trousers, they shared.

"There's nothing quite like the confidence boost I get from wearing a well-tailored business suit," said Seae Ventures' Justin Williams. The sharp lines, the perfect fit – it's not just clothing, it's a statement."

The blazers will stay on for conferences, VCs said, but sometimes they may be swapped for brighter ones. "I love a good cape or statement jacket," said Mahati Sridhar.

Grady Dick poses in a sparkly red blazer at the 2023 NBA Draft.




Michelle Farsi/NBAE via Getty Images

If they're a panelist at a hot tech conference, investors are willing to opt for more formal footwear. "For speaking opportunities, I invested in a sharp blazer and high-heeled boots — who doesn't feel powerful when they're a bit taller?" said Pear VC's Vivien Ho told Business Insider.

Dressing up doesn't always have to be for events, though. For some investors it can be a personal point of pride, and remind them of home. "I often find myself missing my hometown of London, so I love a textured blazer and some Chelsea boots for my most important meetings as they remind me of winters back in the UK," said Kyber Knight Capital's Ary Vaidya.

And for some women on the list, dressing up can also convey to others in the typically male-dominated VC world that they're important players in the room, too.

Lori Harvey (left) and Heidi Klum (right) wearing red outfits.




Valentina Frugiuele/Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

That's why Base 10's Luci Fonseca likes to don a red boucle blazer with a silk scarf. "The human brain associates the color red with courage. One of my favorite sayings is there is no courage without fear, and when I wear red, I always feel a bit more courageous and powerful," she said.

Here's what other VCs shared about which outfits give them that confidence boost:

"Given the autumn season, likely a pair of jeans, boots, a long coat, and a colorful sweater featuring a funky animal of some sort." (KJ Sidberry, GV)

"Most events I host or attend are with founders and investors in the tech community. My informal power outfit comes down to the shoes! I find myself wearing a simple, plain-colored short-sleeve henley with pants and a nice cardigan sweater to go on top. The power is in the form of sneakers, which likely have more color and pop! They are generally a pair of Jordan's or Nike limited edition collaborations with RTFKT (see my latest pair on a LinkedIn post that got more engagement than expected)." (Brandon Hoffman, Sunset Ventures)

"My go-to is a local designer called Mute by JL who makes amazing statement pieces that go well with everything! I'll pair a top/dress from her with some Birdies for comfort and I'm good to go." (Sarah Wu, Emerson Collective)

"My power outfit typically consists of form-fitting dresses or blazers of premium fabric. I favor vibrant colors to stand out in any setting, and I like to add a touch of sparkle with blingy accents and highlights to catch the eye. It's an ensemble that exudes confidence and makes a memorable statement." (Fiona Huang, DCM)

"Red jacket and high-top sneakers. Game On!" (Demi Obayomi, Sapphire)

"I love a jumpsuit - simple, professional, solid color. I'll pair it with fun shoes (whether sneakers, heels, or boots). I tend to wear a lot of black, but I was recently gifted a "color analysis" and told by an expert that I should not be wearing black anymore! This is a problem because 90% of my closet is black clothes. I have since been trying to incorporate more warm and vibrant colors into my power outfits, so we'll see how that goes." (Natalie Borowski, Coefficient Capital )

"As a proud Canadian, I'm an Aritzia girl through and through. Their Effortless pants give me all the confidence I need!" (Alysaa Co, Bain Capital Ventures)"Black on black on black. Black flowy trousers, black turtleneck, and chunky black boots." (Daisy Wolf, Andreessen Horowitz)