Investor sees consumer-focused tech as big opportunity

In industry after industry, the COVID-19 pandemic is pushing companies online more rapidly than before, spurring investments in both back-end systems and customer-facing applications. Early-stage investor Monique Villa with Mucker Capital is keeping a close eye on that latter push to help her figure out tech opportunities. The past year, she says, has made us all more discerning online consumers for products and services ranging from skin care products and education to health care and finance.

“We now expect a certain level of user experience, communication and engagement,” Villa says. “Customers are really challenging companies to pay attention more closely. It’s literally a gold mine if you can capture the right data on why consumers are engaging with you. But it’s going to take experimentation and flexibility to respond and find out why.”