Fundraising Fox

Michael Vaughan

Investor

Co-Founder and General Partner at Vera Equity

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Writes $250K – $1M checks · typically $500K

About

An experienced fintech operator and investor with over 20 years at high-growth tech companies. Most notably served as COO of Venmo from Series A through its acquisition by PayPal, scaling the platform to 40 million active users and $300 million in annual revenue. Since 2019, has built an angel portfolio of over 75 tech companies and serves as an operating partner at Stripes, a growth equity firm.

Experience

  1. tastytradeCEO, IG US Holdings, parent of tastytrade, tastylive, tastyfx and tastycryptocurrent2025 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  2. IG GroupChief Executive Officer, IG North Americacurrent2025 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  3. StripesSenior Advisorcurrent2025 — present
  4. StripesOperating Partner2022 — 2025New York City Metropolitan Area
  5. Vera EquityCo-Founder and General Partnercurrent2021 — present
  6. Stem Disintermedia Inc.Board Member2019 — 2023Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  7. Oak HC/FTVenture Partner2019 — 2022Greater New York City Area
  8. First Round Fast TrackMentor to Startup Founder/CEOs2019 — 2022Greater Philadelphia
  9. CIBOBoard Member2020 — 2021Greater Boston
  10. Verse Technologies IncBoard Member2019 — 2020Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  11. PayPalVenmo, COO2013 — 2019
  12. VenmoChief Operating Officer2011 — 2019Greater New York City Area
  13. TicketleapVice President of Business Development & Sales2008 — 2011Greater Philadelphia Area
  14. J.G. WentworthManaging Director, Channel Partners & Business Development2004 — 2007Greater Philadelphia Area
  15. Telephia IncDirector, Product Operations1999 — 2004San Francisco Bay Area
  16. SynygyConsultant1998 — 1999

Education

  1. The Wharton SchoolBachelor of Science - BS, Economics; Concentrations in Entrepreneurial Management and Operations & Information Systems
  2. University of PennsylvaniaBachelor of Science - BS, Economics
  3. The Hill School

Skills & more

Executive ManagementAngel InvestingVenture CapitalSales ManagementSales OperationsInside SalesDirect SalesBusiness IntelligenceProgram ManagementProduct ManagementProduct DevelopmentOperations Management
+12 moreStart-upsStrategyEntrepreneurshipBusiness DevelopmentCRMAnalyticsBusiness StrategyChannel PartnersInvestmentsMentoringLeadershipStrategic Thinking

From Michael's professional profile.

Colleagues at Vera Equity

Brad Stadler
co-Founder at Vera Equity
Channa Green
Marketing & Communications at Vera Equity
Joe Riggione
co-Founder at Vera Equity
Jon Pomeranz
Co-Founder and General Partner at Vera Equity

Network3

Alex CookScout
Partner at Tiger Global Management
Bryan CiambellaScout
General Partner at PROOF
Diogo MyrrhaScout
Partner at Peak Ventures

Investors connected to Michael in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Michael Vaughan work?
Michael Vaughan is Co-Founder and General Partner at Vera Equity.
What check size does Michael Vaughan write?
Michael Vaughan typically writes checks of $250K – $1M.

Same school

Also attended The Wharton School1,481

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesSarah GuoFounder & General Partner of ConvictionJosh KopelmanFounder and Partner at First Round CapitalAydin SenkutFounder & Managing Partner at FelicisKatie RiesterPartner, Head of Investor Relations at Felicis VenturesTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General Catalyst

+ 1,475 more

Also attended University of Pennsylvania765

Dasha MaggioPartner at Felicis Ventures, writer on venture capital and founder psychologyNancy WangInvestor at Felicis VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray VenturesEghosa OmoiguiFounder and Managing General Partner at EchoVC PartnersAkshat GoenkaInvestor at Moonfire VenturesJames KuklinskiInvestor at Spark Capital

+ 759 more

Also attended The Hill School10

Natalie MullinsInvestor at Bain Capital CryptoMiguel OjangurenSenior Associate at Oquendo Capital, SGEIC,Justin NewtonAdvisor at Colle Capital PartnersNico BesselaarChief of Staff at MVP VenturesDavid Brillembourg Jr.Founder and General Partner at Dune VenturesJason W. IngleFounder & Managing Partner at Third Nature

+ 4 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Stem Disintermedia Inc.1

Ian DoodyCo-Founder and Managing Partner at Powerhouse Capital

Also worked at First Round Fast Track14

Juan Carlos SotoVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalErica WaichmanHead of People & Community at Canvas VenturesCamila Sgai FrancoProduct Fellow at Mighty CapitalRob Schoder, Jr.Venture Partner at Barrel VenturesAlan DaySenior Associate, Investments at New York Life VenturesMichael JosephCo-Founder and Co-CEO at Ion Pacific

+ 8 more

Also worked at CIBO9

Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringBrett WongPrincipal at Anterra CapitalSusan Hunt StevensExecutive in Residence at Earthshot VenturesJoseph PianelliOperating Partner at Stage 1 VenturesIgnacio MartinezGeneral Partner at Flagship PioneeringRyan RichtFounder at Well Principled

+ 3 more

Also worked at PayPal136

Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockRoelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; PCAST co-chair; former White House AI & crypto czarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesJoe LonsdaleFounder & Managing Partner of 8VC

+ 130 more