June Funding Pathways: Chisos Capital, 2045 Ventures, and more
When it comes to money for startups, there's no shortage of options - from crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, equity funding models such as convertible debt, friends & family rounds, smaller VCs, grants and even angel investment networks. 💰 Join us for our funding pathways event series for a panel with industry leaders so you can find out which path is right for you! 🚀
Following the panel, there will be a 30-minute Q&A breakout room where you can ask specific questions and interact directly with the experts. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and guidance on your startup's funding journey. Launch your business to new heights with the right financial support! 🚀💰
Meet our speakers below! ⬇️
Ileana Gonzalez is a force multiplier. Whether it is operations, automations, integrations or processes, Ileana operates like no other entrepreneur. Ileana is a growth hacker. As the Head of Growth at Papaya Tutor, she is responsible for driving growth through project management, product development and operational systems. With 7 years of operational experience in the startup and venture capital industry, she has a proven track record of scaling startups and increasing brand awareness through creative campaigns and innovative technology. Her expertise in community building, social media marketing and operational scalability has helped Ileana to build and lead high-performing teams and achieve measurable results. If you are an educator, student, institutional investor or angel looking to get involved with Papaya Tutor please reach out to Ileana via email ileana@papayatutor.com or via Twitter @ileanagonzxlez.
Carmen Palafox is a Founding Partner at 2045 Capital and Partner at MiLA Capital, a seed-stage Venture Capital firm in Los Angeles focused on funding tech you can touch. She was Vice President at Dimensional Fund Advisors where she scaled operations into LATAM, Canada, and Europe going from $75 Billion AUM to $300 Billion AUM. Carmen believes in the power of capital markets to spur growth and innovation. She enjoys coaching entrepreneurs on finance and strategic planning. Carmen was awarded the Rising Star Award from the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce. She was spotlighted by the NVCA as a Rising Star in VC and featured by LA Magazine as 1 of 13 of LA’s Powerful Women. In 2019, Carmen spoke on Bloomberg TVs Top Tech Trends to watch. Carmen is also on the founding team of LatinxVCs.
Will Stringer is the co-founder and CEO of Chisos, an early stage alternative investment company utilizing a Convertible Income Share Agreement to invest at the earliest stages of business ideation and formation. Will is responsible for creation of the Convertible Income Share Agreement, development of the underwriting and diligence criteria, fundraising, financial planning and general operations of the company. Will is an angel investor and advisor to multiple early stage companies. Prior to Cockrell, Will was an Analyst in the Energy Investment Banking Group of Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Mariessa Edmonson is the Associate Program and Operations Manager of the Long Beach Accelerator. She has a passion for closing the racial wealth gap and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion through entrepreneurship. Her desire to expand access to capital and resources for underserved founders and communities has led her to the Long Beach Accelerator and also to pursue a Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship degree at the University of Southern California (USC). Her career in the VC world is preceded by her experience working for both public and private entities increasing access for underserved communities from healthcare to employment. She enjoys working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders from grassroots community organizations to all levels of management.