From Consulting to Venture Capital: My Journey Through the Tech Ecosystem
Hi everyone! I’m Alexis Dulan, and I’m excited to share my journey with you. I’ve traveled quite a path, from growing up in Los Angeles, CA, to moving to New Jersey during high school, and ultimately, finding my passion in the world of venture capital.
My story begins in Los Angeles, where I was born and raised. I moved to New Jersey in high school due to Wells Fargo’s acquisition of Wachovia. After that, I attended Spelman College, majoring in International Studies and Spanish, initially with the goal of becoming an international corporate law attorney. However, during college, I interned in the Global Banking Markets division of HSBC. The fast-paced world of sales and trading didn't fit my personality, and I quickly realized I needed to pivot.
Returning home, I joined Accenture Consulting, focusing on health and public service. My first major project was with the Los Angeles County office supporting the eligibility system—ironically, the same department my grandfather worked in when he first moved to Los Angeles in the 1960s. After various projects across Los Angeles, Washington DC, and North Carolina, I was ready for a new challenge.
In December 2019, I started as an Experience Specialist at Slack Technologies. Slack had recently gone public, and working there felt like joining a startup. The dynamic environment, rapid decision-making, and sense of ownership were exhilarating. However, the startup world also brought concerns about instability and pressure. When the pandemic hit, the need for a "digital headquarters" skyrocketed, and my role in helping customers onboard Slack became crucial. Despite loving my job, the divisive political climate and racial tensions made me reflect on my purpose and the lack of diversity in high-growth companies.
One evening, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw a friend post about HBCUvc, a fellowship program that teaches students and alumni from HBCUs about venture capital. I applied, got accepted, and my venture capital journey began. A key takeaway from HBCUvc that isn't easily found through research is the importance of narrative in venture capital. It's not just about numbers and traction; it's about telling a compelling story.
After the fellowship, I interned at Foundry Group, a $4BN AUM fund in Boulder, Colorado. Working with industry leaders like Brad Feld and Seth Levine, I supported fund-of-funds investing in emerging fund managers from underrepresented backgrounds. This experience solidified my passion for venture capital.
I then worked with community builders in the tech ecosystem in Atlanta and took on two roles concurrently in late 2022-2023: Customer Success Manager for a Series A startup in the sustainability space and part-time Investor Relations Manager for Goodie Nation. I helped founders with investor readiness, investor introductions, and team building. As I transitioned out of both roles, I began my current role as an investment associate at Capitalize VC.
At Capitalize, we invest at the pre-seed stage in teams with diverse founders in commerce enablement, commerce infrastructure, the passion/creator economy, B2B fintech, SMB tech, and CPG. If you know a founder who fits this description, we hope you’ll refer them to us through our website for investment consideration.
Reflecting on my journey, I've had the unique opportunity to experience the tech ecosystem from various angles: as an operator, in later-stage tech, and in early-stage VC. Each role has equipped me with insights that inform my decision-making at Capitalize VC. A popular topic is whether you have to be an operator to be a successful investor. My stance, shaped by my diverse experiences, is that while being an operator can provide valuable insights and empathy towards founders, it’s not a strict requirement. Success in investing also comes from understanding market trends, building strong networks, and identifying and supporting high-potential founders.
I am excited to share more about my journey in VC with you all through this blog.