The Key AI Ventures Team
A small, focused team of seasoned investors and operators united by a shared belief in the power of enterprise security and cloud infrastructure.
Samantha Jackson
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Samantha Jackson is the CEO and Founder of Key AI Ventures, where she leads the firm's investment strategy and portfolio development. She founded Key AI in 2021 with a conviction that enterprise security and cloud infrastructure represent the most durable and impactful investment category of our era. Prior to founding Key AI, Samantha held senior roles at leading enterprise software companies, where she developed deep expertise in security architecture and cloud operations. Her investment philosophy centers on backing founders who combine technical excellence with clear enterprise GTM instincts. Samantha is known for her conviction-driven approach and her ability to help early-stage companies land their first marquee enterprise customers through the Wing VC network.
Carmen Silva
Principal
Carmen Silva leads sourcing and due diligence at Key AI Ventures, with a focus on cloud data infrastructure, developer tooling, and enterprise security platforms. Before joining Key AI, Carmen was a product manager at a leading cloud infrastructure company, where she shipped enterprise products used by thousands of organizations globally. She brings a builder's perspective to every investment evaluation — asking not just whether the market is large, but whether the team can execute. Carmen is particularly passionate about the intersection of AI and security operations, and she tracks the emerging category of autonomous SecOps platforms.
Aurora Hicks
Venture Partner
Aurora Hicks serves as Venture Partner at Key AI Ventures, contributing strategic advisory and enterprise distribution expertise across the portfolio. Aurora brings over a decade of enterprise go-to-market experience, having led sales and customer success organizations at multiple security and cloud companies through rapid growth phases. She has deep relationships with CISOs and cloud infrastructure leaders across Fortune 500 enterprises, and she actively connects Key AI portfolio companies with strategic pilots and first-logo customers. Aurora advises founders on pricing strategy, enterprise sales motion, and navigating complex procurement processes.