Kelsey Morgan Pasqualichio
Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners
United States
Overview
Work Experience
Investment Partner
2022 - Current
Downing Capital Group was founded in 2021 with the goal of building world-class businesses that shape industries and positively impact the communities they engage. By leveraging the team’s diverse industry and investing experience, Downing Capital goes beyond the traditional PE model by not only investing, but also conceiving, capitalizing, and scaling companies from the ground up. The investment team consults with industry leaders to understand pain points and opportunities in fast-growing sectors. After months of research and ideation, a founding team with deep knowledge of the space is recruited to continue the mission. The founding team is provided with capital, along with a full suite of investment, strategy, recruiting, brand-building, and operational support. Downing capital is a long-term, engaged investor who works alongside executive teams from day one through subsequent fundraising rounds and eventual exit.
Downing Capital Group’s mission is to build businesses and create value for all the constituencies of portfolio companies.
Co-Founder, Investor & Advisor
2016
Nex Cubed is an investor and innovation partner to startups, corporations, universities and governments. Through our global innovation platform that includes Sway Ventures (VC) & Material Capital Partners (private equity), Nex Cubed has established itself as a leader in early-stage investing, innovation and acceleration. Our portfolio includes over 75 investments and an international network of corporate partners, strategic advisors, investor advisors, and mentors. To date, the portfolio companies have an aggregate value in the billions of dollars. In September 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury recognized Nex Cubed’s HBCU Founders Fund as part of its announcement of a new analysis showing the growth of small business and entrepreneurship.
Nex Cubed FinTech specializes in accelerating transformative fintech solutions.
Board Member & Founding Team
2021
The HBCU Founders Initiative provides funding, resources and a vast network committed to supporting diverse founders on their entrepreneurial journey. HBCUFI is backed by partners including Blackstone, Microsoft, the Walton Family Foundation, Costco, Ford, the Skoll Foundation and Cooley among others.
HBCU is a 8-week programs targets early-stage founders who are past the ideation stage and ready to validate a problem and build an MVP.
Venture Partner
2015
Managing Partner
2015 - 2016
As a founding team member, I launched the NYC office, helped spearhead the first fund, led investments for NYC and the Bay Area, and built a coalition of 150+ technologists, capital partners, and angel investors who served as venture partners.
NextGen Venture Partners invests in seed-stage companies with the participation of their venture partners.
Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
2022 - 2023
Cedar Brands is a modern consumer brand house focused on the home, family, and leisure categories.
Director
2013 - 2015
Techstars is an accelerator that provides pre-seed investment and mentoring for various early stage startups.
Raised $108,919,999.00 from SVB Financial Group and Foundry Group.
Director, Global M&A and Corporate Development
2011 - 2013
Interpublic Group provides advertising, digital marketing, communications planning, media buying, PR and specialty marketing services.
Senior Associate - Growth Capital Investments
2010 - 2010
U.S. Buyout Associate
2007 - 2009
Carlyle Global Partners (CGP), the firm’s first long-dated private equity fund.
Investment Banking Analyst
2005 - 2007
Credit Suisse Group is a financial services company that advises clients in all aspects of finance.