Tessa Flippin
Founder and Managing Partner at Capitalize VC
Greater Chicago Area
Overview
Work Experience
Kauffman Fellow Class 29
2024 - Current
Co-investment VC firm supporting the mission of the Kauffman Fellows
Founder and Managing Partner
2021
Capitalize VC is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Chicago, IL. We invest pre-seed capital in commerce-enablement tech companies solving critical problems for retailers, brands, creators, and manufacturers as they navigate a shifting landscape.
Innovation Advisory Committee
2025
Board Member
2022
Midwest Chapter Co-Lead
2020
Venture Partner
2021 - 2023
Genius Guild is a business creation platform that supports market-driven innovations to end racism.
Investor (Director)
2021 - 2021
Investor (Senior Associate)
2019 - 2021
Investor (Associate)
2017 - 2019
Helping leading corporations & ambitious entrepreneurs work together to create new business models, revenue streams, products, and markets.
Co-Founder
2016 - 2018
Developed e-commerce technology to send cross-border payments and connect them to retailers and convenience stores.
Summer MBA Financial Services Intern
2015 - 2015
Kiva Zip Business Development
2015 - 2015
Kiva is an international non-profit organization that enables families to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Raised $11,800,000.00 from Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative and The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation.