Tessa Flippin
InvestorFounder and Managing Partner at Capitalize VC
Chicago, Illinois
Writes $1M – $10M checks · typically $5M
Find your path to Tessa
1,331 people in our graph share verified history with Tessa — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Harley FinkelsteinunlockedTessa: together at National Retail Federation (2025–2026)
×7Tessa: together at Kauffman Fellows
×2Tessa: together at Stanford University
Tessa: together at Columbia Business School
About
Tessa Flippin, a former Stanford Division I high-jump athlete, applies a performance- and mindset-oriented lens—discipline, resilience, clearing the bar—to shift early-stage paradigms and back Black and Latinx pre-seed founders.
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningDirect to ConsumerE-commerceFintechImpact & Social Good
Experience
- Capitalize VCFounder and Managing Partnercurrent2021 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- National Retail FederationInnovation Advisory Committeecurrent2025 — present
- WOC Retail Alliance®Council Membercurrent2025 — present
- Chicago:BlendBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- BLCK VCMidwest Chapter Co-Leadcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- Kauffman FellowsKauffman Fellow Class 292024 — 2026
- Genius GuildVenture Partner2021 — 2023Chicago, Illinois, United States
- TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Director)2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
- TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Senior Associate)2019 — 2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
- TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Associate)2017 — 2019Chicago, Illinois, United States
- La PlataformaCo-Founder2016 — 2018Santiago, Chile; Mexico City, Mexico; Chicago, IL
- La Victoria LabSummer MBA Financial Services Intern2015Lima, Peru
- Kiva.orgKiva Zip MBA Business Development2015Greater New York City Area
- Kairos SocietySummer MBA Business Development Intern2014Medellin, Colombia
- OctagonSenior Account Executive2011 — 2014New York City Metropolitan Area
- EdelmanBrand Experience Associate Account Executive2010 — 2011Greater Chicago Area
- American Cancer SocietyProject Manager2009 — 2010Greater Chicago Area
Skills & more
Entrepreneurship11Social Entrepreneurship9International Business6Emerging Markets3Business Development8Market Research5Marketing Strategy5Community Outreach2Marketing9Financial Analysis2Marketing Communications14Integrated Marketing13
+7 more
Digital MarketingSocial MediaNetworkingDigital StrategyFundraisingManagementLeadershipLanguages English · Spanish
From Tessa's professional profile.
Colleagues at Capitalize VC
Network2
Investors connected to Tessa in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Tessa Flippin?
- Tessa Flippin, a former Stanford Division I high-jump athlete, applies a performance- and mindset-oriented lens—discipline, resilience, clearing the bar—to shift early-stage paradigms and back Black and Latinx pre-seed founders.
- Where does Tessa Flippin work?
- Tessa Flippin is Founder and Managing Partner at Capitalize VC.
- What does Tessa Flippin invest in?
- Tessa Flippin invests in AI & Machine Learning, Direct to Consumer, E-commerce, Fintech, Impact & Social Good.
- What check size does Tessa Flippin write?
- Tessa Flippin typically writes checks of $1M – $10M.
- Where did Tessa Flippin go to school?
- Tessa Flippin studied at Stanford University (BA, Technology and Innovation); Columbia Business School (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), International Business and Social Entrepreneurship); FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas (International development and Entrepreneurship Semester Exchange).
Same school
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
Also attended Columbia Business School991
Ryan PetersenFounder & CEO of FlexportAryo TehranianManaging Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersYibo NianInvestment Director at Intel CapitalKesha CashFounder & General Partner at Impact America FundMahati SridharPartner, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionGiuseppe IademarcoHead of Global Partnership at P101 Ventures
+ 985 more
Also attended FGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas241
Cristian PintoInvestor at DaphniJulien DillonInvestment Director - Finance at Emerald Technology Ventures AgGustavo RibasInvestor at KfundFabio OliveiraInvestor at Riverwood CapitalJean-Marc EtlinInvestor at Norte VenturesBruno DalapriaPartner at NXTP
+ 235 more
Shared employers
Also worked at BLCK VC35
Solomon HailuPartner at March Capital PartnersMaya MatthewsSenior Associate at March Capital PartnersBrian HollinsFounder at Collide CapitalShila Nieves BurneyManaging Partner at Zane Venture FundMichael FanfantGeneral Partner at Runa CapitalDenny GabrielVC Investor at Runa Capital
+ 29 more
Also worked at Kauffman Fellows406
Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaTobi CokerDeal Partner at Felicis VenturesRoi Bar-KatManaging Director at Intel CapitalAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel CapitalNick WashburnSenior Managing Director, Intel Capital (North America)Vinnie LauriaFounding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures
+ 400 more
