Melissa Withers
Founder of ANGELS.vc
Greater Boston
Overview
Work Experience
Member
2024 - Current
Gaingels provides funding to startup companies and supports diversity and inclusion within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Managing Partner & Co-Founder, RevUp Capital
2015
Leader of dynamic fund that has invested in 50+ B2B and B2C early stage companies. Identifies companies for investment, conducting diligence in the context of changing market conditions. Provides strategic support and leadership to a diverse portfolio of fast-growing companies that are in-market, growing, and navigating the complexities of scale. Special focus on investing into and growing companies led by founders undeserved by traditional venture capital.
RevUp Capital invests and supports revenue-driven B2B and B2C companies.
Board Member
2020
Statera is an application bringing transparency, predictability, and simplicity to clinical compensation models.
Raised $3,250,000.00 from In Revenue Capital, DWP Capital, Golden Section and Walnut Venture Associates.
Board Member
2022
Tozuda is a manufacturing company that develops the most affordable and reliable concussion awareness solutions.
Raised $120,000.00 from Techstars.
Member
2024
Mentor in Residence TechStars Boston
2019 - 2021
Expertise: B2B & B2C, Go to Market Strategy, Customer Dev, Content & Communication, Enterprise Sales Interested in early and accelerated growth Favorite Snack: The Competition
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.
Managing Director // Nerd Whisperer
2011 - 2015
Nationally-ranked Betaspring was one of the first (and best!) startup accelerators in the world to come into existence when it launched in 2009. From 2009-2014 Betaspring invested in 89 companies, a portfolio that has raised $65M in follow-on funding and produced six exits.
Cofounder and Executive Director
2006 - 2010
My co-founder and I launched BIF to create a platform where organizations accelerate the design and testing of new business models. Proud to say that BIF is growing and stronger than ever, albeit it without me. Most proud of my contributions getting the org launched and profitable, creating the now-heralded BIF Summit and creating the first BIF Experience Labs—the framework for how BIF delivers value to its clients and customers. Here is where I cut my teeth on delivering complicated, multi-partner collaborations. Elevated my storytelling skills to new level. Got drunk on the innovation Kool-Aid. Best. Experience. Ever.
Business Innovation Factory designs, prototypes, and commercializes business model transformation.
Director of Communications and Market Development
2005 - 2008
Responsible for agency's media relations and public relations programming. Also oversaw strategic marketing initiatives and the launch of new programs. Added bonus: oversight of agency's innovation programming with mandate to develop and launch new initiatives.
Assistant Director of Communications and Public Affairs
1999 - 2005
Managed public outreach, community relations, and internal and external communication for top-tier biomedical research institute at MIT. Proud of my work contributing to communications and public outreach for the Human Genome Project. Monitored trends in science policy, producing editorials, advocacy correspondence, and briefs for local and national legislators. Served on media relations team, developed publications, produced major events. Led program to help scientists become effective communicators and policy advocates at local, state and national level and oversaw award winning program for connecting students with world-class science programming.
Whitehead Institute is a research institution for human health.
Raised $10,000,000.00 from Brit Jepson d'Arbeloff.
Education
MA
1999 - 2002