Team
Crescent Ridge is a private, evergreen, female-led fund that was founded by Allison in 2012 and later joined by Maria in 2020 as a partner. At Crescent Ridge, we bring the rigor of institutional capital with the trust and closeness of family and friends.
Allison Long Pettine
Allison is an investor and entrepreneur passionate about supporting leaders who strive to positively impact society. Allison’s approach to investing is built on respect, collaboration, and partnership. Because Allison began her career as one of the first employees of a medical device start-up, her perspective on investing goes beyond simply financial risk and return. Allison brings over 15 years of venture capital experience to each new venture, taking an active role in her investments, from co-founder to serving on boards. In 2018, Allison co-founded Ad Astra Ventures, a fund specifically focused on investing in female founders, to address the massive gender imbalances in our society. She takes great joy in the mutual benefit she derives as a mentor for both Praxis and TechStars and in her most important role as wife and mother.
Maria Gonzalez-Blanch
Maria is an investor, start-up advisor, and operator on a mission to partner with entrepreneurs and other fund managers to generate strong social and financial returns. With a diverse international background, Maria started her career as an engineer before transitioning into strategy consulting. She has also held leadership roles at a major Private Equity firm and other consumer-focused companies before joining Crescent Ridge. Maria holds an MBA from Stanford and an industrial engineering degree. She is dedicated to supporting founders who don’t conform to the traditional venture model. Maria also serves on the board of Sustainable Surf, a non-profit committed to reversing climate change by supporting blue-carbon coastal ecosystems. Maria is originally from Spain, a mother of two, a health and fitness enthusiast and an avid surfer.
