Fundraising Fox

Samela Kivilo

Investor

Investment Manager at Specialist VC

Estonia

Writes $250K – $3M checks · typically $1.6M

About

Has led analytics and deal sourcing since the firm was United Angels and oversees ESG policy for portfolio companies. She holds degrees from Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and TalTech, with interests in data science and deep tech.

LinkedIn ↗

Experience

  1. Specialist VCInvestment Managercurrent2025 — present
  2. Specialist VCSenior Associate2023 — 2025
  3. Specialist VCAssociate2021 — 2022
  4. Specialist VCJunior Associate2020 — 2021
  5. Redgate CapitalM&A Intern2019Tallinn
  6. Trind VenturesVC Intern2018Tallinn

Education

  1. Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskola - Stockholm School of Economics in RigaBSc in Economics and Business (Grade A)
  2. TalTech – Tallinn University of TechnologyMSc Business Information Technology (cum laude)
  3. National University of SingaporeMSc Exchange Semester (NUS School of Computing)2022
  4. Frankfurt School of Finance & ManagementBSc Exchange semester
  5. Tallinna ReaalkoolHigh school (gold)

Skills & more

Public Speaking1Startup DevelopmentM&A analysisInvestment ManagementVenture CapitalVenture FinancingFundraisingEarly-stage Startups

Languages English · Estonian · German

From Samela's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Rīgas Ekonomikas augstskola - Stockholm School of Economics in Riga16

Riin VähkFinance Manager at Karma VenturesTaavi LepmetsPartner at Trind VenturesZane KampaInvestment Associate at Change VenturesGerri KodresFounding Partner at Specialist VCMaximilian HeldSenior Investment Manager at Round2 Capital PartnersDiana Lace-DaviDovaVenture Partner at SuperAngel

+ 10 more

Also attended TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology19

Lena NedebockInvestment Associate at Burda Principal InvestmentsRiin VähkFinance Manager at Karma VenturesShogo MinamiAssociate at Presidio VenturesMariliis HolmOperations & Scientific Diligence at Sustainable Food VenturesJulia VinkmannAccountant at EastateSamuli AheristoInvestment Associate at Vendep Capital

+ 13 more

Also attended National University of Singapore247

Justin HallPartner at Golden Gate VenturesMahati SridharPartner, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionCeline XiaoInvestor at DN CapitalSofia DahouneInvestor at DaphniYi Min LohInvestment Associate at Burda Principal InvestmentsSean LooInvestment Analyst at Burda Principal Investments

+ 241 more

Also attended Tallinna Reaalkool2

Liis HiieInvestment Associate at Trind VenturesNatali MutliAnalyst at Rockstart

Shared employers

Also worked at Specialist VC7

Riivo AntonFounding Partner at Specialist VCGerri KodresFounding Partner at Specialist VCKaspar HanniPartner at Specialist VCKarina UniverInvestment Manager at Specialist VCOliver StrastinAssociate at Specialist VCLiisa PentFinance and Operations Specialist at Specialist VC

+ 1 more

Also worked at Trind Ventures8

Joel AasmäeManaging Partner at Trind VenturesIvar SiimarPartner at Trind VenturesKimmo IrpolaPartner at Trind VenturesTaavi LepmetsPartner at Trind VenturesPeeter KompusPrincipal at Trind VenturesIryna KrepchukInvestment Associate at Trind Ventures

+ 2 more

Colleagues at Specialist VC

Gerri Kodres
Founding Partner at Specialist VC
Karina Univer
Investment Manager at Specialist VC
Kaspar Hanni
Partner at Specialist VC
Liisa Pent
Finance and Operations Specialist at Specialist VC
Oliver Strastin
Associate at Specialist VC
Riivo Anton
Founding Partner at Specialist VC
Tõnu Esko
Venture Partner and Scientific Advisor at Specialist VC

Network1

Gerri Kodres
Founding Partner at Specialist VC

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