Ellen Chisa
InvestorPartner at boldstart ventures
Somerville, Massachusetts
Writes $250K – $2M checks · typically $1M
About
Ellen Chisa, Dark’s cofounder who built a backend language, editor and infrastructure, meets founders pre‑company and focuses on developer adoption via tight learning experiments to displace incumbents in 5–10 years.
Latest on 𝕏
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Experience
- boldstart venturesPartnercurrent2022 — presentSomerville, Massachusetts, United States
- boldstart venturesFounder-in-Residence2021 — 2022Somerville, Massachusetts, United States
- GeneralistBoard Directorcurrent2024 — present
- Topos BioBoard Directorcurrent2025 — present
- LiveblocksBoard Directorcurrent2022 — present
- Noded AIBoard Directorcurrent2025 — present
- StellateBoard Director2021 — 2024
- DarkCofounder/CEO2017 — 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- LolaVP Product2015 — 2017Boston, MA
- KickstarterProduct Manager2012 — 2014New York, New York
- MicrosoftProgram Manager2010 — 2012Redmond, WA
- Alight LearningCo-Founder2008 — 2010Boston, MA
Education
- Franklin W. Olin College of EngineeringBachelor of Science (B.S.), Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Harvard Business SchoolMBA
- University of WashingtonHuman Centered Design and Engineering
- International Academy
Skills & more
Leadership13Strategy3User Interface Design54Project Management29Software Development22Product Management30User Experience Design7Agile Project Management6Agile Methodologies7User Experience8User Scenarios4Project Planning3
+12 more
TestingMobile ApplicationsMobile TechnologyWindows PhonePhilanthropyScrumSoftware DesignEducationPresentationsUser-centered DesignMicrosoft OfficeAwesomenessFrom Ellen's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering8
Josh JungPrincipal at Z Venture CapitalLee EdwardsPartner at Root Ventures Manager, LlcZodi ChalatAssociate at Root Ventures Manager, LlcKate GarrettCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Sonder CapitalEvan MorikawaPartner at Axiom PartnersJuliette ChevallierInvestor at Anzu Partners
+ 2 more
Also attended Harvard Business School1,777
Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesJim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalTim DraperFounder of Draper AssociatesMike Maples JrCo-founding Partner at FloodgateMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner Perkins
+ 1,771 more
Also attended University of Washington162
Andrew ChenGeneral Partner at Andreessen HorowitzVictoria TreygerGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesAndrewAdvisor at Clear VenturesJoseph HorsmanInvestor at Madrona Venture GroupTed KummertVenture partner at Madrona focused on enterprise infrastructure, data, and intelligent applicationsJohn CarpenterInformation Technology Director at Madrona Venture Group
+ 156 more
Shared employers
Also worked at boldstart ventures10
Shomik GhoshInvestor at Sierra VenturesLuke ArmourInvestor at Chaac VenturesEd SimFounder and General Partner at boldstart venturesEliot DurbinGeneral Partner at boldstart venturesErnest AddisonSenior Associate at boldstart venturesCharlotte ChapanoffHead of Marketing & Global Events at boldstart ventures
+ 4 more
Also worked at Generalist5
Also worked at Topos Bio1
Deals · 2
Topos Bio, Inc.Board seat
via boldstart ventures · filed Jan 2025 · $10.5M raise
OpenSaucedBoard seat
via boldstart ventures · filed May 2023 · $3.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at boldstart ventures
Charlotte Chapanoff
Head of Marketing & Global Events at boldstart ventures
Ed Sim
Founder and General Partner at boldstart ventures
Eliot Durbin
General Partner at boldstart ventures
Ernest Addison
Senior Associate at boldstart ventures
Jennifer Moy
Chief Operating Officer at boldstart ventures
Matthew Nordby
Partner at boldstart ventures
Shomik Ghosh
Investor at Sierra Ventures
Sparky
Investor at boldstart ventures
Network8
Ashley LarsonScout
Vice President at Revolution
Ed SimScout
Founder and General Partner at boldstart ventures
Eliot DurbinScout
General Partner at boldstart ventures
Shomik GhoshScout
Investor at Sierra Ventures
Ted LeonsisScout
Founder & Partner, Revolution Growth at Revolution
Ernest Addison
Senior Associate at boldstart ventures
Matthew Nordby
Partner at boldstart ventures
Stan Kreydin
Partner at boldstart ventures
Investors connected to Ellen in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
































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