Chingona Ventures is a Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in founders who are uniquely positioned to create businesses in overlooked markets. Samara Mejia Hernandez founded Chingona Ventures in 2019 to invest, as she puts it, “in the next generation of badass founders. The Chingona Ventures team invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies in often-overlooked markets, partnering with founders at the earliest stages of development. They invest at the earliest stages, even at the idea stage, with first checks ranging from $100–250k. As part of their investment strategy, they will lead or catalyze a larger round, but are happy to co-invest with other investors who believe just as strongly in you as a founder just as they do.” The team at Chingona Ventures brings a unique lens to the early-stage investment landscape. A key contributor to Chicago’s innovation ecosystem, with deep connections across the venture industry and access to companies addressing underestimated markets, the Chingona Ventures team impressed us with their demonstrated capacity to drive change. an early-stage venture capital firm based in Chicago, Illinois investing in founders who are uniquely positioned to create businesses in overlooked markets.
The fund invests in businesses that are catering to the massive generational and demographic shift that is occurring in the U.S., which will ultimately upend how consumers spend money, use products, manage their health, and engage with society.