As Silicon Gardens expands its presence in the United States, we’re excited to introduce the person leading that effort on the ground. Nina Leskovec joins us in Palo Alto after a decade in the Bay Area, bringing together math, finance, and startup experience to strengthen the bridge between Adria’s founders and the world’s most active tech ecosystem.
This month, we officially welcomed Nina as the eyes and ears of Silicon Gardens in our newly established office in Palo Alto. After a decade in the Bay Area and a career built at the intersection of math, finance, and startups, Nina is stepping into a role that connects our region with the world’s most active tech ecosystem.
Before the official announcement, we spent time with Nina to talk about her first weeks, the differences between US and European startups, and what she hopes lands on her desk next.
Nina’s background reads like a blueprint for early-stage investing:
a foundation in mathematics, a career in investment finance, hands-on operating experience inside startups, and a decade of living inside the rhythms of Silicon Valley.
“Venture capital fascinated me early on,” she says. “It’s one of the few fields where you get to meet people who see the world differently, and who genuinely want to improve something. I always knew I wanted to be in that environment.”
Nina is one of the rare people who can speak fluently about both sides of the global tech map.
When we asked how she sees the US and Europe differ, she didn’t hesitate:
“The US and European ecosystems are fundamentally different. When you combine bold business acumen with deep technical talent, you get something truly unstoppable.”
In her view, Europe has great technical craftsmanship and depth, but sometimes hesitates to scale. The US has an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit, but sometimes lacks the engineering talent that can be found in our region.
In Nina’s eyes, the sweet spot sits exactly between the two.
Her goal is simple:
connect founders, investors, and opportunities across both ecosystems.
Nina spends most of her time close to AI, and she has a dual appreciation most investors don’t articulate:
“I live and breathe AI around here, so the big, disruptive ideas definitely get my attention. But I have a soft spot for the under-the-radar solutions that make everyday systems work better. In the long run, both kinds of innovation move the world forward.”
Her interest lies not in the hype but in the usefulness of the ideas; simple, can reshape a process or unlock new capabilities.
We ended our conversation with something human, and often overlooked in conversations about deal flow and investment criteria:
“At the end of the day, it’s all about people. If I walk away from a meeting genuinely inspired, that’s usually a great sign. The best collaborations grow from mutual respect and real human connection.”
That philosophy fits perfectly with Silicon Gardens’ founders-for-founders DNA.
With Nina embedded in San Francisco, the mission is clear:
strengthen the bridge between Adria’s talent and global opportunity.
If you’re in the Bay Area and building something interesting, Nina would love to meet you.
Welcome to the Gardens, Nina. 🌱
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