NYA FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT ‒ ANNA STEPURA, ADLYSE CO-FOUNDER & CEO

Anna Stepura, Co-Founder and CEO of Adlyse, first connected with a New York Angels member through a LinkedIn invitation to speak at New York Tech Week.  That cold call later turned into investment from several NYA Members.  Anna’s first startup successfully exited in 2024. After that, she helped other companies, including YC startups, figure out what they needed to change in their products and growth strategies in order to create better exits and acquisitions. Read this interview to hear from Anna on:

- The difference between New York and Silicon Valley,

- How competitive gymnastics builds resilience, flexibility, and the ability to stay calm during difficult situations, and

- Why AI is the next stage of human progress.

How did you first meet New York Angels?

I first connected with Mike Jacobs, one of the members of New York Angels. I reached out to him on LinkedIn to ask if he would speak at one of our New York Tech Week events, and he actually replied and said yes. When he joined the event, it quickly became clear how respected he is in the industry. For many attendees, he was really the highlight of the day. We had a great panel discussion with healthy conversations and different perspectives, and afterward I asked him if he would be interested in becoming an advisor. He said yes, and after working together for some time, observing both me and the team, he eventually introduced us to New York Angels.

What were you looking for in investors when you were fundraising, and why did you choose to work with New York Angels?

I chose to work with New York Angels because they really understand the media segment and understand that market. They also have a very strict due diligence process. Of course, as a founder, due diligence is not the most fun thing to go through, but honestly, I appreciated it because it showed me their work ethic and how seriously they take what they do.

At the same time, I experienced a very human approach from the group. They were always willing to help, make introductions, and be there whenever we needed support. For me as a founder, that makes a huge difference.

Overall, New York Angels brings an unmatched level of expertise, perspective, and work ethic to the table.

They have also helped me appreciate the contrast between Silicon Valley and New York. I also really value the different perspective they bring because I’m based in Silicon Valley, where the mindset is often “future, future, future” and hypergrowth. New York brings a more grounded business perspective, and I think building a bridge between those two worlds is incredibly powerful because there is still a huge gap between what technology can do and how people are actually using it today.

What was the fundraising process like for you overall?

For me, the biggest focus has always been on the product, the quality, and everything we deliver to the market. I really believe that if you have a strong position in the market, investors will come.

That said, fundraising absolutely requires strategy. You have to prepare your pitch deck, think carefully about your ideal investors, and develop a plan before you ever start pitching. Then you begin conversations, evaluate who aligns with your vision, and determine which investors you truly want to work with long term.

What have you enjoyed most about working with New York Angels?

I am still a relatively new portfolio founder, so I’m continuing to get more engaged with the broader group, but so far everyone I’ve worked with has been incredibly helpful. They provide thoughtful insights and advice, and there’s a real sense that if you need help, they will step in and support you. At the same time, they also trust founders to execute and do not try to over-control the company or create distractions.

What advice would you give other founders who are looking to fundraise?

Create a strategy from the very beginning and spend real time developing it. Then, once you start pitching, listen carefully to feedback. Even rejection is useful data that can help improve your pitch and sharpen your thinking.

Sometimes feedback simply shows that you and the investor are not aligned in how you see the world, and that’s okay too. The important thing is to continue iterating based on feedback without constantly changing your overall strategy. If you keep changing the strategy itself, it becomes very difficult to execute successfully.

What advice would you give early-stage investors who are looking to invest in companies like yours?

Sometimes investors can fall into “analysis paralysis.” The more scenarios they try to analyze, the more difficult it becomes to make decisions.

What I believe matters most is the grit of the founder. Some people are excellent at selling and creating excitement, but when challenges appear, they give up quickly. The reality is that startups rarely work exactly the way you initially expect.

That’s why investors should pay close attention to a founder’s character, their grit, and their ability to manage crises. Crisis management is one of the most important parts of startup success. Honestly, some of my biggest growth moments came from difficult situations where we had to find impossible-to-imagine solutions. Those moments often become the breakthroughs that move the company forward.

What has driven your Adlyse’s success?

The team. Even though we are an AI-native company operating in a space where everyone is focused on AI, I remain deeply focused on people.

I believe that if you bring world-class leaders, investors, and talent together, the company has no choice but to succeed. And beyond that, it’s simply much more enjoyable to work alongside A-players.

What is something interesting about you that you would like to share with founders or other investors?

I practiced rhythmic gymnastics for 15 years, starting when I was four years old. I think that experience shaped my mindset around discipline and repetition.

It taught me to be comfortable doing hard things repeatedly in pursuit of excellence. It also built resilience, flexibility, and the ability to stay calm during difficult situations, which has helped tremendously as a founder.

What motivates you?

I’m motivated by the opportunity to create meaningful change in the industry. Right now, many people are afraid that AI will replace humans, and while some jobs will absolutely evolve, I believe this is simply the next stage of human progress. I’m very optimistic about the future of technology. I believe AI can help people and businesses achieve 10x or even 100x better outcomes. Imagine if every company could achieve significantly greater growth with the same number of people by using AI more effectively.

Today, AI still feels like leverage. In a few years, it will simply become the normal foundation for how businesses operate. My goal is to help companies use AI as a practical tool that drives real growth and ensures every dollar they invest creates the biggest possible impact.