Nicole Gunderson
Principal at ManchesterStory
Des Moines, Iowa
Overview
Work Experience
Principal
2022 - Current
ManchesterStory is a rapidly growing venture capital firm partnering with market-leading startups in the InsurTech, FinTech and HealthTech sectors.
ManchesterStory Group is an early-to-growth stage venture capital firm focused on InsurTech, FinTech, and HealthTech sector.
The Vaughan Institute of Risk Management Advisory Board Member
2025
Board Member
2025
Board Member
2024
Rainwalk helps insurers increase customer retention and build a new revenue stream using its white label, turn-key pet insurance product.
Raised $7,316,930.00 from Insurtech Gateway, ManchesterStory Group, Seaplane Ventures, Bridge Investments and Techstars.
Board Member
2020
Managing Partner
2012
Seed stage investing. Investments to date include: * theSkimm (2012) - http://theskimm.com/ * Seven Sundays (2014) - https://www.sevensundays.com/ * AnyMod (2015) - https://anymod.com * Airlift (2019) - https://airlifttech.com/ * Patch (2020) - https://www.usepatch.com/ * Ruby Money (2021) - https://www.rubymoney.us/ * Hummingbirds (2023) - https://www.hummingbirds.com/
Managing Director
2019 - 2022
The Global Insurance Accelerator is a mentor-driven business accelerator designed to foster innovation in the insurance industry by supporting insurtech startups targeting the global insurance industry. Startups: this is not your typical accelerator. Our investors are insurance carriers, our mentors are primarily insurance executives. Participating with our program is a highly strategic decision to find product-market fit and do customer discovery faster than you could ever do on your own.
Advisor
2018 - 2021
Chief Operating Officer
2018 - 2018
Techstars Chicago 2018 Speeko is an automated verbal communication analysis and training platform for the workforce. Speeko enables professionals and organizations to measure and improve their verbal communication. The app listens to how you speak and provides objective feedback on things like pace, pitch, and word choice. Speeko is on a mission to reimagine traditional communication training and coach leaders using data and actionable insights.
Automated voice analytics and digital communication coaching
Raised $270,000.00 from Google for Startups Latino Founders Fund.
Vice President of Sales & Strategy
2016 - 2017
Chief of Staff to the CEO
2015 - 2015
Director of Government Partnerships
2015 - 2015
Director of Strategic Partnerships
2014 - 2015
Business Development Builder
2012 - 2014
Business Developer MBA Intern
2012 - 2012
Dwolla is a fintech company powering innovations with sophisticated account-to-account payment solutions.
Raised $72,355,000.00 from Union Square Ventures, Next Level Ventures, Park West Asset Management, Foundry Group, Firebrand Ventures, Jeremy Andrus, Detroit Venture Partners, Union Square Ventures, High Alpha and Foundry Group.
Leveraged Finance
2007 - 2011
Food Group
2005 - 2007
Financial Sponsors Group
2004 - 2005