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Sarah Istel

Sarah Istel

Managing Director atCerberus VenturesNew York
LinkedIn Cerberus Ventures websiteFirm profile

Sarah Istel joined Cerberus in 2025 as Managing Director, focusing on deep-tech defense investments in energy, biotech, and maritime. She previously served as Deputy General Counsel and Bio & Energy Tech Lead for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

What Sarah can write

Writes checks ofNot reported
Comes in atSeed, Series A, Series BCan lead the round
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

Career

  1. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison · senior associate
  2. U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence · Deputy General Counsel and Bio & Energy Tech Lead
  3. Cerberus · Managing Director
    Now
  4. Southern District of New York
  5. Second Circuit
  6. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School · visiting affiliate
  7. House and Senate intelligence committees
  8. Cerberus Capital Management · Managing Director
    Now

Focus

deep-tech defenseenergybiotechmaritime

Education

Princeton UniversityHarvard Law School, J.D., cum laude

Also at Cerberus Ventures

Chenny Zhang
Chenny ZhangManaging Director
Dave LoBosco
Dave LoBoscoManaging Director
Michael Rolnick
Michael RolnickSenior Managing Director
Morgan Mahlock
Morgan MahlockManaging Director
Laura BocekVice President
Aidan Bruno
Aidan BrunoAnalyst
Josh Heatley
Josh HeatleyAnalyst
Chris Darby
Chris DarbyGlobal Head

Partners like Sarah

At firms with a similar stage, sector and check size.

Emily McMahan
Emily McMahanCo-Founder, Managing Partner, AIN Ventures
Stephen Marcus
Stephen MarcusCo-Founder & General Partner, Riot Ventures
Jamie RutledgeGeneral Partner, Bluelake
Akira KurabayashiManaging Partner / Head of Japan, DNX Ventures
Craig HuffFounder / Executive Chair, General Innovation Capital Partners
Alexander LangeFounding GP, Inflection

Alert me when Cerberus Ventures is active

One email when Sarah's firm raises a fund, adds a partner or shows new activity.

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Questions

Who is Sarah Istel?

Sarah Istel joined Cerberus in 2025 as Managing Director, focusing on deep-tech defense investments in energy, biotech, and maritime. She previously served as Deputy General Counsel and Bio & Energy Tech Lead for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

How much does Sarah Istel invest?

Cerberus Ventures has not reported a check size. It invests at seed, series a, series b.

How do I pitch Sarah Istel?

A warm intro from a founder Cerberus Ventures backed works best. A short LinkedIn note with one line on traction is the next best route.

What did Sarah Istel do before Cerberus Ventures?

senior associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Deputy General Counsel and Bio & Energy Tech Lead at U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Southern District of New York; Second Circuit; visiting affiliate at Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School; House and Senate intelligence committees.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Is this you? Ask for a correction.