Alexis Alston
Partner at Lightship Capital
Miami, Florida
Overview
Work Experience
Partner
2024 - Current
Lightship Capital is a $2Bn family of funds, investing in and managing the world's most innovative startups and venture capital firms. As the first hire at Lightship, I created the infrastructure for what is now one of the largest and most innovative funds in the US. • Lead sourcing, due diligence, and exit strategy for a portfolio of direct tech investments at Lightship Capital. Portfolio companies combined are valued at over $700M. • Identify, invest in, and grow remarkable early stage founders across the US as I lead direct investing for Lightship's early stage funds, growing from 0 to 25 portfolio investments. • Developed strong skills in portfolio management, financial analysis, management team curation, revenue strategy optimization, and strategic decision-making- leading to multi million dollar partnerships with Fortune 500 brands, including P&G, Target, Walmart, Quest Diagnostics, and others.
Principal
2022 - 2023
• Led investments in underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Midwest, focusing on CPG, E-Commerce, AI, and Healthcare startups to promote diversity and inclusivity in the industry. • Developed strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to expand funding opportunities for marginalized founders, driving social impact and financial returns. • Implemented innovative investment strategies to support early-stage companies, resulting in a diverse portfolio of successful ventures.
Senior Associate
2019 - 2022
Lightship Capital is the new impact venture capital fund associated with the Hillman Accelerator. Based in Midwest, the fund invests in underrepresented founders in overlooked geographies across the US and beyond. The fund invests in seed rounds and is often a company's first institutional investor.
Lightship Capital invests in remarkable founders. We turn bias into profit.
Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Practice - Director of B-Lab
2024
• Leads the Breakthrough Lab at Brown University, overseeing a student-focused entrepreneurship program. • Supports the Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship to drive innovation and foster entrepreneurial skills within the student and alumni community of entrepreneurs and tech executives. • Developed and implemented curriculum to empower students in launching successful ventures with a focus on creating scalable, cash efficient, and replicable processes - designed for growth.
Advisory Board Member
2019 - 2021
• Spearheaded Target Corporation's $5bn commitment to investing in diverse brands, leading to increased representation on national shelves. • Co-created Forward Founders, an innovative accelerator program for emerging brands to prepare for retail success. • Collaborated with the Entrepreneurial Advisory Counsel to drive strategic initiatives and foster growth opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Target is a retailing company providing access to a wide selection of products such as furniture, electronics, toys, and others.
Analyst
2017 - 2019
Advantage Capital provides equity and debt financing to established and emerging companies located in communities underserved by conventional sources of capital. Since 1992, the firm has invested more than $2 billion in companies from a diverse array of industry sectors, including manufacturing, technology and business services, among others, and has offices in New Orleans, St. Louis, New York, Austin and other locations.
Advantage Capital has invested over $3.8 billion in more than 800 portfolio companies and projects nationwide since 1992.
Raised $77,000,000.00 from Citi.