Katie Schmitz

Katie Schmitz is the Head of Principal Investing and Fund Management at Ziegler and the Managing Partner of the Ziegler Link-age Funds, a venture capital fund family with an investment policy designed to support innovation, collaboration and growth among entrepreneurs and senior living and healthcare providers. With over 10 years of operating and investing experience, she manages the Ziegler Link-age Fund's investment pipeline and leads investment execution, including holding investment committee seats in three venture funds representing, in aggregate, over $100mm in commitments.

As a strategic investor, Schmitz takes an active role with many of the companies in which the Ziegler Link-age Funds have invested, including holding seats on five portfolio company Boards of Directors. She serves on Boards of Directors for five companies, and helps them better understand and penetrate the senior living market. Her recent activities include backing Cascala Health, an AI-powered clinical intelligence platform for post-acute care, and leading a $15 million investment in Cosán, a connected chronic care management company.

Schmitz has a strong foundation in US GAAP, internal controls, and mergers and acquisitions through her experience working in the Audit and Transaction Advisory practices of Grant Thornton. She earned a BBA in accounting and Masters of Accountancy from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, is a Wisconsin Certified Public Accountant and maintains Series 7 and 24 securities licenses.

Career History

• Head of Principal Investing & Fund Management at Ziegler (2014–present)
• Manager in Transaction Advisory Services at Grant Thornton (2014)
• Audit Associate and Senior Associate in Transaction Advisory Services at Grant Thornton (2010–2014)
• Teller II & New Accounts Representative at Landmark Credit Union (2003–2008)

What Katie Schmitz could bring to her role as Managing Partner at Ziegler Link-age Funds: Her deep expertise in venture capital operations, portfolio company oversight, and healthcare sector investing positions her to drive disciplined capital deployment and strategic value creation across the fund's senior living and healthcare technology portfolio. Her hands-on board experience with multiple portfolio companies and her transaction advisory background enable her to provide both strategic guidance and operational rigor to emerging healthcare innovators seeking to improve care delivery for older adults.