TF

Tessa Flippin

Founder and Managing Partner at Capitalize VC

Greater Chicago Area

Overview

Work Experience

  • Kauffman Fellow Class 29

    2024 - Current

  • Founder and Managing Partner

    2021

    **Are you a founder looking for investment? Please submit your company to us on our website: https://www.capitalizevc.com/submission.** Capitalize VC is a venture capital firm focused on harnessing the power of venture capital to empower a community of diverse entrepreneurs and investors. We invest in diverse founders at the pre-seed and seed stages at the intersection of e-commerce technology, fintech and consumer brands. We are shifting the venture capital paradigm. Join us and be a part of the shift. www.capitalizevc.com

  • Midwest Chapter Co-Lead

    2020

  • Venture Partner

    2021 - 2023

    Genius Guild is a business creation platform dedicated to ending racism through economic inclusion and investing in, supporting, and providing resources for Black-founded businesses and market-based businesses working towards equality. GG Greenhouse Funds is a pre-seed venture fund that invests in market-based innovations that end racism. As VC-in-Residence I work very closely with the team as Genius Guild builds an investment firm.

  • Investor (Director)

    2021 - 2021

  • Investor (Senior Associate)

    2019 - 2021

  • Investor (Associate)

    2017 - 2019

  • Co-Founder

    2016 - 2018

    Develop technology to send affordable and convenient international money transfers within Latin America for low-income and unbanked individuals who regularly send money home to their country of origin S Factory - Santiago, Chile Start-Up Chile - Santiago, Chile Startup Bootcamp - Mexico City

  • Summer MBA Financial Services Intern

    2015 - 2015

    Member of Intercorp’s innovation team working to improve financial services for the Peruvian middle-class population based on cultural awareness and human centered design principles

  • Kiva Zip Business Development

    2015 - 2015

    • Conducted market analysis and developed strategies to find, recruit, and onboard entrepreneurs and small businesses who are fundamentally excluded from traditional micro finance loans • Analyzed trends in historical data to identify areas of growth with potential partners that support low income, financially excluded, and socially impactful entrepreneurs • Created and distributed marketing newsletters to inform borrowers of funding opportunities, business plan development courses, and industry news and events • Managed a mentorship program for lenders and volunteers to work with borrowers to improve their Kiva Zip online profiles and increase fundraising efforts

  • Summer MBA Business Development Intern

    2014 - 2014

    Spearheaded the Kairos Society Latin American Summit, the organization’s debut global conference in Latin America; managed partnerships, financials, website creation and logistics

  • Senior Account Executive

    2011 - 2014

    Managed Time Warner Cable and MSC Industrial Supply accounts to provide consulting expertise in sponsorship procurement, experiential marking, social media outreach and digital services

Relevant Websites