engineered to live
Don't just build a life.
Engineer one worth living.
Engineered to Live is for people who want to build deliberately, live intentionally, and make something extraordinary of both.
About the Founder
Ellen Damaso
I’ve spent my career surrounded by people who are exceptionally good at building — founders creating companies, investors allocating capital, innovators solving impossible problems, and communities bringing ambitious people together.
And I began to notice something.
The same people who are incredibly intentional about their businesses often leave the rest of their lives to chance. We optimize our calendars but not our lives. We chase growth without defining what “enough” means. We build impressive careers and then wonder where the time went.
I became fascinated by the idea that maybe a life deserves the same thoughtfulness we give to everything else we build.
That we can experiment. Recalibrate. Change direction. Remove what isn't working. Invest in what matters. And keep engineering toward a life that feels like our own.
That's where Engineered to Live began. A space for people who don't want to simply be successful — they want to be intentional about what their success is actually in service of.
Because the goal isn't to engineer a perfect life.
It's to build a life worth living.
“MY PURPOSE IS TO HELP PEOPLE DESIGN, BUILD, AND LIVE LIVES THAT ARE AS INTENTIONAL AS THE FUTURES THEY’RE WORKING TO CREATE.”
This online gathering is designed for founders, funders, technologists, and community builders in the fashion and beauty tech ecosystem. Our mission: foster collaboration, spotlight emerging startups, and unlock pathways for innovation and investment. View more.
Bridging Fashion & Beauty Innovators Virtual Pitch Competition
The OOaN Salon Series are bi-weekly invitation-only gatherings offered hybrid at a private residence in Nob Hill and online. View more.
The OOaN Salon Series
Featured Events
2024 - present
Stepped into venture capital as a Partner at Plus Ultra Capital Partners, backing Seed and Series A climate tech, energy, and healthtech companies — alongside scouting for LvlUp Ventures and investing through Hustle Fund's Angel Squad as well as scaling thought leadership and coaching practice.
2024
Recognized on two of the industry's most competitive award stages in the same year — external validation of a career built across engineering, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
2012 - 2014
From Technical Marketing Manager at Samsung Semiconductor to Director of Technical Marketing at NuEnergy Storage Technologies, with solar consulting at Meraki Solar in between — the pivot from engineering into strategy and go-to-market leadership.
2012
Ellen launched her own personal styling and image consulting practice — a business she still owns and runs today, 14+ years later. The first proof that her instincts could build something entirely her own.
1999 - 2011
From a Firmware Engineer Intern at Nortel to Component Engineer at Raytheon, Systems Engineer at Rockwell Collins, and Field Application Engineer at Micron — over a decade inside the technical core of DRAM, NAND, and advanced engineering systems.
Key Milestones
What People Say
Raj Bharathi
CEO @KronosX AI
I had the opportunity to connect with Ellen Damaso during one of her investor office hours, and one of the first things I noticed was how genuine and approachable she is. Her office hours are never about pitching, they're about building genuine connections and having thoughtful conversations, much like catching up over coffee.
Ellen brings a strong understanding of enterprise technology and healthcare, with a clear appreciation of the realities founders face, from customer adoption and procurement cycles to fundraising strategy and timing. She shared insightful perspectives, asked thought-provoking questions, listened carefully, and offered practical guidance grounded in experience.
If you're a founder looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with a personable approach, I'd highly recommend taking the opportunity to connect with Ellen.
Jessica Radley
CEO @Nectome
I had the pleasure of working with Ellen during an event she hosted, where her ability to understand and communicate with the audience made a real difference. She took the time to carefully explain the demographic we were engaging with and translated those insights into clear, effective messaging that genuinely resonated.
What stood out most was how thoughtful and practical her approach was. She identified who the audience was and how we should adjust our tone, framing, and priorities accordingly. Her input directly shaped our strategy and elevated the overall impact of the event.
She is an excellent event host as well! It was a lot of fun and everything went smoothly. If you’re looking for someone who combines strong analytical thinking with sharp communication instincts and adaptability, Ellen is an absolute asset. I’d gladly work with her again and highly recommend her.
What People Say
Ellen has the energy, drive and ideas to make great things happen. A good person to know and have in your corner.
I look forward to seeing her succeed, particularly with regard to her vision for digital wellness.
Ellen is as sharp as they come. From her technical background as an engineer to her work as a VC Partner, she knows the game inside out. She knows exactly what you need.
Ellen helped us understand some gaps in our deck and gave solid advice on filling those gaps.
On a personal level, she is a great communicator, friend, and human being to get to know. Have never met her with anything less than a smile and a can do attitude.
From her own startup to her work to her personal life there is no one I know as put together and wise and her. Get to know her and heed her advice!
Working with Ellen has been an invaluable experience during the early stages of COLOR. She has a rare ability to cut through complexity and get to the heart of what matters to investors, which helped sharpen our pitch and narrative. Her perspective on fundraising goes beyond surface-level advice. She understands how VCs think, where founders often get tripped up, and how to structure opportunities in a way that protects the company’s long-term vision.
In my conversations with Ellen, she consistently balanced encouragement with practical guidance, challenging me to refine our GTM and investor strategy while ensuring we stayed true to our direction. What I value most is her honesty, she’s not afraid to say when something doesn’t make sense and offers solutions that are both strategic and actionable. For any founder navigating the VC landscape or needing their pitch elevated to a sharper, investor-ready level, Ellen is the kind of advisor you want in your corner.
Ellen is fearless.
I first met her in Pensacola when she attended one of our Powerful Women events. At the time, she was just getting started—building her network, learning new skills, and boldly stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. Since then, I've watched her journey with admiration as she’s relocated to Austin and stepped fully into her power.
Today, she’s not only helping entrepreneurs secure the funding they need to grow, but she’s also a dynamic speaker, lighting up TEDx stages and other platforms with her insight and energy. Ellen is daring, bold, and unafraid to ask the tough questions or chase opportunities that many would shy away from. She brings passion, courage, and contagious energy into every room she enters.
If you’re lucky enough to work with Ellen, you’ll see what I mean—she’s a force to be reckoned with.
Scott Linsley
Founder @ MyJobMarket Pty Ltd
Danny Y.
Now Scaling Second Chances for Life
Kimani A.
Unifying the Spectrum of Night Life
Kolleen Chesley
Chief Table Speaker & Lead Visionary
View more testimonials here.
work with ellen
Don't just build a life.
Engineer one worth living.
Engineered to Live is for people who want to build deliberately, live intentionally, and make something extraordinary of both.
AS SEEN IN
Authentic Achievements
Brainz Magazine
Authority Magazine
Featured Interviews
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Authority Magazine
Highly Effective Networking: Ellen Damaso of Plus Ultra Capital Partners On 5 Strategies for Successful Networking, Both Online and Offline. An Interview With Athalia Monae. Read more here.
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Brainz Magazine
Cultivating An Abundant Mindset – Luxuriating In Gratitude For Life's Richest Treasures: Ellen Damaso ingeniously infuses her engineering nerd roots with a passion for empowerment and wardrobe styling talent. With a background in defining processes, she guides others to conquer the world with styling and unwavering confidence, all while sprinkling in the wisdom of two captivating books. Read more here.
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Authentic Achievements
Authentic Achievements with Special Guest Ellen Damaso featuring Embracing Authenticity: Ellen’s Journey of Resilience and Empowerment, The Power of Personal Style, Overcoming Trauma and Reclaiming Your Life and The Importance of Self-Expression and Empowerment. Read more here.