Courtney Watson
Fund Partner
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Steen Watson, Managing Partner
Dillan Ealy, Portfolio Management
Kennedy Griffin, Asset Management
Hailey Johnston, Investor Relations
Margaret Lowery, Investment Analysis
Courtney is a co-founder of Chestnut Catalyst Group, a woman-led firm that partners and consults with capital groups, community organizations, non-profits, and businesses to drive social innovation across boundaries. Chestnut Catalyst Group is an affiliate of Chestnut Funds helping inform fund strategy, source impactful projects, and evaluate investment impacts for Chestnut Opportunity Zone Fund.
Courtney’s professional experience includes working at SF-based technology startup Flycast to the global internet company AOL and best practice research and consulting firm The Corporate Executive Board. Since moving to Chattanooga she has led consulting engagements that included the development, launch, and management of a local food system initiative to the management of an entrepreneurial accelerator program. Courtney is also a partner in the Chattanooga Renaissance Fund, a venture capital firm that has invested in early-stage, tech-enabled companies in the Southeast. Courtney served on the initial investment committee of LaunchTN’s Impact Fund, established in 2017 to invest in Tennessee-based, for-profit startups with a mission to solve fundamental social, environmental, and economic challenges.
Courtney received a BS in Commerce and a minor in French from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Vanderbilt University. Courtney serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chattanooga.
