Chris Abele is the founder and president of CSA Partners, a Milwaukee-based venture capital firm he launched in 2013. See sector focus and contact routes.
Chris Abele is the founder and president of CSA Partners, a Milwaukee-based venture capital firm he launched in 2013 after committing at least $10 million of his own capital to support early-stage companies. His investment thesis targets early-stage, high-growth startups primarily located in Wisconsin and the broader Midwest, with a focus on entrepreneurs demonstrating Midwestern values like integrity and community. The firm’s historical check sizes range from an average of approximately $265,000 to a maximum of $2.4 million, and it actively provides strategic guidance alongside capital. Notable portfolio companies include Bright Cellars, a wine subscription service, and PrettyLitter, a pet care product, alongside investments in healthcare (Ease), e-commerce (Pet Krewe), and food innovation (Agricycle). By 2017, the fund had deployed more than $12 million across 14 companies, including six based in Wisconsin. Abele, who served as Milwaukee County Executive from 2011 to 2020, distinguishes his approach by emphasizing a hands-on role to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses.
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