Desiree Michele Vargas Wrigley is the founding General Partner of Velocity Catalyst Fund I, LP. Organization, location and related investors we track.
Desiree Michele Vargas Wrigley is the founding General Partner of Velocity Catalyst Fund I, LP, a $50 million hybrid fund anchored in Chicago and Illinois, where she previously served as Chief Innovation Officer at P33 Chicago and founded TechRise. Her investment thesis targets pre-seed startups and emerging fund managers in crucial industries, with a specific focus on diversifying venture capital for BIPOC and women founders across Chicago and the broader state of Illinois. While the fund’s total size is confirmed at $50 million, specific typical check sizes and whether she leads or follows on deals are not explicitly detailed in available sources. Notable portfolio connections include her leadership of 20+ early-stage investments through The Josephine Collective, though specific named companies from Velocity Catalyst itself are not publicly listed in the provided results. Wrigley is recognized by Inc., Crain’s, and Forbes as a leading voice in entrepreneurship, having helped over 300 BIPOC and women founders raise more than $110 million. Her distinctive point of view centers on accessible angel investing for underrepresented groups and anchoring high-potentia
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