Alice Pillar

As a lawyer and operator, I’ve had the privilege of working with companies at every stage of their journey—from start-up to IPO—across the US, UK and Europe. I’m passionate about helping businesses grow, solving complex challenges, and leveraging emerging technologies to improve processes and outcomes. My goal is to bring this experience to our founders, making sure they have the tools, insights, and operational support they need to scale successfully.

After graduating Oxford University with a degree in Modern Languages (French and Russian), I completed a second degree in Law and joined US law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, advising global clients on high-stakes cross-border M&A transactions and IPOs on LSE, NYSE and HKSE. Alongside this, I built expertise in data protection and intellectual property, earning additional qualifications at UCL’s Institute of Brand & Innovation Law.

My journey then led me into companies, where I gained first-hand experience of the operational realities of a fast-paced business. At NYSE-listed fintech company ITG, I served as European Head of Legal, working alongside sales and engineering teams and interacting with regulators across 5 companies and 3 countries. This hands-on experience has given me a deep appreciation for the day-to-day challenges founders face, from regulatory hurdles to operational bottlenecks.

After 6 years at ITG, I deepened my connection to start-ups as fractional Head of Legal and Operations, partnering with early-stage ventures to tackle resource constraints, scale operations, and align legal strategies with business goals. Now, at Moonfire, I am responsible for Operations and Legal, where I’m dedicated to building a new kind of VC—one that innovates in its operations and delivers maximum value to its founders through technology, data, and community.

My experience allows me to offer practical, actionable support to founders. Whether it’s navigating a critical transaction, improving operational processes, or creating scalable systems, I’m here to act as a trusted partner, helping them turn challenges into opportunities and accelerate their path to success.