Anne Cocquyt
About Anne Cocquyt
Anne Cocquyt is the Founder and CEO of The GUILD, with extensive experience as a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. She focuses on supporting gender equality in the startup ecosystem and currently lectures at the University of California, Berkeley.
Work at The GUILD
Anne Cocquyt serves as the Founder and CEO of The GUILD, a role she has held since 2016. Under her leadership, The GUILD has focused on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs by providing resources and networking opportunities. Cocquyt has hosted startup conferences that attract hundreds of entrepreneurs and investors, integrating their insights into the GUILD Academy's 8-week program. The organization emphasizes gender equality in the startup ecosystem and has established partnerships with initiatives like the How Women Invest Fund.
Education and Expertise
Anne Cocquyt holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Tübingen, where she studied Computer Science, International Trade and Economics, Statistics, and Human Resources. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business from the same institution. Cocquyt's educational background supports her extensive experience as a serial entrepreneur and angel investor, with a focus on digital health innovation and startup methodologies.
Background
Cocquyt has a diverse professional background, having worked across three continents. She has held various roles in the tech and health sectors, including positions at Genentech, where she was involved in innovation and commercial partnering. Her entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding Bezl LLC and serving as Executive Director at Women In Product. Currently, she is a Strategic Advisor and Fractional COO at Opio Connect, Inc., and a Faculty Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley.
Achievements
Anne Cocquyt has authored the bestselling entrepreneurship book 'DARE TO LAUNCH', aimed at inspiring first-time founders. She has established eight businesses in three different countries and has raised funding from major technology companies to support gender equality initiatives. Cocquyt also lectures on entrepreneurship at UC Berkeley and leads the 'Deplastify The Planet' course, collaborating with corporations such as Microsoft and Allbirds to address environmental challenges.
Current Roles and Initiatives
In addition to her role at The GUILD, Anne Cocquyt is actively involved in various initiatives. She has been the Innovation Course Lead for 'Deplastify the Planet' at Schoolab since 2024 and previously led the Silicon Valley Impact Camp. Cocquyt utilizes her extensive network at institutions like Stanford and Y-Combinator to mentor startups and share insights on funding and entrepreneurship through her YouTube series, the GUILD Show.