Lisa Litherland

Lisa Litherland is a technology operator, founder, board/advisory professional, and early-stage investor associated with VDOSH. Kellogg Magazine’s EMBA Cohort 98 class notes identify VDOSH as a micro venture capital firm led by Vishal Arora and list Lisa Litherland ’15 as a partner. VDOSH is described in its press releases as a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm that gives investors access to startup companies through the VDOSH Fund and gives entrepreneurs access to a network of investors and influencers.

Litherland’s own site says her most recent role was Co-founder and CEO of Social Optics, an edtech startup that she took from idea to a software product used by students and educators in classrooms. In a 2022 LinkedIn announcement, she described Social Optics as a digital curriculum for autistic teens focused on perspective taking, problem solving, communication skills, transition outcomes, employability, quality of life, and social connection.

Before Social Optics, Litherland spent years in corporate technology and digital transformation. A 3D Africa hackathon judge bio lists her as Business Architect, IoT and Digital Transformation at CDW, coordinating solution architects, delivery engineers, and partners across use cases such as fleet management, wayfinding, smart buildings, enhanced video surveillance, and access control for public safety. The same bio says she earned a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Her personal site adds that at CDW she built an AI video surveillance practice to a $30 million business in 18 months and generated another $230 million in revenue across other sales and leadership roles. She also states that she has mentored founders through Alumni Ventures and VDOSH, worked in roles connected to Motorola, Intel, the FBI, and Zoom, and served on advisory boards for Naber.ai and Dynamics Intelligence.

• VDOSH focuses on early-stage startups, especially pre-seed, seed, and Series A companies, with a reported investment range of $50,000-$250,000.
• VDOSH’s sector focus is broad but technology-led: software/SaaS, business solutions, e-commerce, IoT, AI/big data, analytics, deep tech, gaming, mobility, and related categories.
• VDOSH’s stated value proposition is not just capital: its press releases say the firm offers entrepreneurs an efficient funding process and access to an established network of investors and influencers.
• Litherland’s own operating lens emphasizes fundamentals plus iteration: “focusing on the fundamentals of business leads to success,” while also allowing “flexibility to innovate and iterate.”
• Her advisory offerings are practical and operator-oriented: business fundamentals, go-to-market strategy, and sales tactics for founders.
• Her recent personal focus has shifted toward acquisition entrepreneurship and exit readiness. In 2026 LinkedIn activity, she described evaluating hundreds of businesses, getting SBA pre-qualified, and launching an Exit Strategy VIP Day for owners of $1M-$25M businesses planning to exit in 1-5 years.