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Tessa Flippin

Investor

Managing Partner at Capitalize VC

Chicago, Illinois

Writes $1M – $10M checks · typically $5M

Kauffman Fellow · Class 29

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You →Zimri · together at Capitalize VC (2024) →Tessa

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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

  1. Capitalize VCFounder and Managing Partnercurrent2021 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  2. National Retail FederationInnovation Advisory Committeecurrent2025 — present
  3. WOC Retail Alliance®Council Membercurrent2025 — present
  4. Chicago:BlendBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  5. BLCK VCMidwest Chapter Co-Leadcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  6. Kauffman FellowsKauffman Fellow Class 292024 — 2026
  7. Genius GuildVenture Partner2021 — 2023Chicago, Illinois, United States
  8. TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Director)2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
  9. TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Senior Associate)2019 — 2021Chicago, Illinois, United States
  10. TechNexus Venture CollaborativeInvestor (Associate)2017 — 2019Chicago, Illinois, United States
  11. La PlataformaCo-Founder2016 — 2018Santiago, Chile; Mexico City, Mexico; Chicago, IL
  12. La Victoria LabSummer MBA Financial Services Intern2015Lima, Peru
  13. Kiva.orgKiva Zip MBA Business Development2015Greater New York City Area
  14. Kairos SocietySummer MBA Business Development Intern2014Medellin, Colombia
  15. OctagonSenior Account Executive2011 — 2014Greater New York City Area
  16. EdelmanBrand Experience Associate Account Executive2010 — 2011Greater Chicago Area
  17. American Cancer SocietyProject Manager2009 — 2010Greater Chicago Area

Skills & more

Entrepreneurship11Social Entrepreneurship9International Business6Emerging Markets3Business Development8Market Research5Marketing Strategy5Community Outreach2Marketing9Financial Analysis2Marketing Communications14Integrated Marketing13
+7 moreDigital MarketingSocial MediaNetworkingManagementDigital StrategyFundraisingLeadership

Languages English · Spanish

From Tessa's professional profile.

Investments

Per curated public sources.

Colleagues at Capitalize VC

Bridgette Smith
Investor at Capitalize VC
Christian McKenzie
Director at Lofty Ventures
Dale Jekov
CFO at Capitalize VC
Lori DeLuca
CFO at Capitalize VC
Queenclaire Ogbonnaya
Executive Assistant at Capitalize VC
Simmone Seymour
Investor at Capitalize VC
Vanessa Stephens
Venture Partner at Capitalize VC

Network2

Bridgette Smith
Investor at Capitalize VC
Kathryn Finney
Partner at Capitalize VC

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 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.
What companies has Tessa Flippin invested in?
Investments tracked here include Bump Future of Work, VOW.
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

Shared employers

Also worked at La Victoria Lab1

Rodrigo FajardoInvestor at UTEC Ventures