Investor · Advisor · Convener
Laura Walker Lee
At the intersection of capital, culture, and community.
Point of View
“Capital is most powerful when it carries a point of view. I invest where culture, technology, and purpose converge — and build the rooms where those futures get financed.”
Laura Walker Lee
The Ecosystem
One connected system for capital, culture & community
About
A career at the intersection of culture & finance
Laura Walker Lee is the Founding Partner of Madre Ventures, an investment and advisory firm at the intersection of culture, finance, and innovation. She leads a $5B+ portfolio focused on scalable, profitable solutions in clean energy, mindful technology, and social wellness.
Laura began her career in film finance at CAA, where she structured and raised over $1B for films and helped package Oscar-winning projects including Dallas Buyers Club and Zero Dark Thirty. Over the past decade, she has produced and financed work for world-class creators and raised capital for initiatives led by Robert Downey Jr. (FootPrint Coalition), George and Amal Clooney (The Clooney Foundation for Justice), and Ava DuVernay (ARRAY).
In venture, Laura has procured more than $1.8B in offers for mid- to late-stage founders and is known for architecting impact-driven capital stacks across sectors. She serves on Fast Company’s Impact Council, studied Narrative Economics at Yale and Corporate & Board Governance at Wharton, and is recognized for aligning profit with purpose.
Foundation
Creative Artists Agency
Before founding Madre, Laura served as a Film Finance Agent at Creative Artists Agency. From 2007 to 2014 — a defining era for independent film financing — she structured deals for leading financiers including Annapurna, 2929 Entertainment, Silver Reel, and FilmNation. During her tenure, she helped grow the Film Finance Group from managing under $10M in annual transactions to more than $1B.
Track Record
A decade of measured impact
$0B+
Raised for film & entertainment
$0.0B+
In venture offers procured
$0B+
Portfolio under advisory
0+
Years across finance & culture
Figures reflect cumulative activity across film finance and venture advisory.
Madre Ventures
At the intersection of venture & culture
As Founding Partner of Madre Ventures, Laura leads investment and advisory work focused on scalable, profitable solutions to significant social, environmental, and technological challenges — aligning profit with purpose across a portfolio built for lasting impact.
Clean Energy
Scalable, profitable solutions accelerating the transition to a more sustainable future.
Mindful Technology
Technology built with intention — advancing human potential rather than competing for attention.
Social Wellness
Ventures strengthening health, community, and well-being at meaningful scale.
Advisory Capabilities
“What would it look like to help one billion people?”
The Track Record
Stories brought to the world
A selection of films whose packaging, financing, and distribution Laura helped structure during her years in entertainment finance — proof of a career spent turning creative vision into projects that reached audiences worldwide.
Still Alice
Dallas Buyers Club
The Master
Spring Breakers
Under The Skin
Zero Dark Thirty
The First
The Network
Trusted by world-class creators
Representing and negotiating on behalf of top-tier talent, Laura became a trusted conduit between artists and the capital behind their work — relationships built on discretion, judgment, and the ability to deliver.
Growth
From $10M to $1B
When Laura joined the Film Finance Group at CAA in 2007, the group managed less than $10M in annual transactions. By the time she departed in 2014, the group was managing over $1B annually.
Celebrity photos credited to Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Forbes.
Meryl Streep
Reese Witherspoon
Natalie Portman
Matthew McConaughey
Bradley Cooper
Viola Davis
Julia Roberts
Julianne Moore
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lawrence
Brad Pitt
Justin Timberlake
Joel Edgerton
Keanu Reeves
Curated Gatherings
Where influential minds converge
Laura co-hosts intimate, invitation-only dinners and convenings — singular environments designed for thought leadership, collaboration, and the relationships that change trajectories.
Vetted. Verified. Introduced.
One Ecosystem · Six Worlds
2025 · A Year of Consequential Rooms
Jan 2025
Sundance Gathering
Park City, Utah
Mar 2025
Legends & Luminaries
Austin, Texas
May 2025
AI & Philanthropy
Los Angeles
Jun 2025
Night with a Shark
Promontory, Utah
Aug 2025
The Entrepreneur Dinner
Private Estate
Sep 2025
Innovation at Sea
New York City
Dec 2025
Backing Broadway
New York City
As featured in
Partners
A Community of Impact
Laura's network of partnerships spans culture, media, technology, and entertainment industries. Over a decade of collaboration with industry-defining companies.
Speaking
Panels & Events
Laura has spoken on multiple panels at conferences, seminars, summits, and private leadership events around the world — sharing her expertise on entertainment industry dynamics, finance structures, cultural impact, and innovation.
Recent Media
Laura discusses her journey through Hollywood entertainment on the Global League of Women Podcast, sharing insights from working with Hollywood’s A-list talent agency in "The Invisible Forces Silencing Women."
By Introduction
Let’s connect
The most meaningful work happens through relationships. Join the list for occasional notes on capital, culture, and community — or request an introduction directly.