Capitalize VC

Firm overview

Tessa Flippin founded Capitalize VC to invest in early-stage technology companies and CPG brands led by Black and Latinx founders. Tessa views Capitalize VC as part of the solution to the racial wealth gap in the United States: By funding and supporting diverse founders who are often overlooked by the VC industry, and by increasing the accessibility of VC investing for diverse LPs, Capitalize VC is enhancing access to wealth on both sides of the table while building a thriving community of diverse investors and founders in the process.

Tessa brings significant experience as both a venture investor and as a founder, allowing her to assist companies with operational advice, hiring, project management, and product strategy. Prior to founding Capitalize VC, Tessa was a venture investor at TechNexus, a Chicago-based fund that invests in enterprise SaaS at the seed stage. Before becoming a VC, Tessa started La Plataforma, a fintech payments platform for sending international money transfers throughout Latin America. 

Firm strategy

Capitalize VC looks to invest intentionally in early-stage Black and Latinx founders. The firm will focus predominantly on tech venture investing across fintech, ad tech, and the future of work. It will also carve out 30% of the fund for CPG brands, financing growth through revenue-based financing. In addition, Capitalize VC’s LP base is split roughly 50/50 between institutional capital and capital from Black and Latinx accredited investors. The firm’s creativity in deal structure, along with its unique and proprietary LP base, offers founders differentiated fundraising and networking opportunities that they may not be able to access through traditional venture capital firms. 

Why we invested

At Carta, we’re big believers in democratizing access to venture, harnessing the power of networks, and supporting creative financing structures. Capitalize is built on all three of these themes, and is led by an impressive solo GP. As a board member of BLCK VC Midwest and a member of the investment committee of the Cap Table Coalition, Tessa has strong connections to the communities of entrepreneurs that Capitalize VC aims to support. She has also shown leadership in the movement to bridge the racial wealth gap, and determination in finding the best companies to help do so. We’re excited to partner with Tessa on her journey.  

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