Desiree Vargas Wrigley

Desiree Vargas Wrigley is an accomplished entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in supporting diverse founders and innovative startups. Currently serving as Founding GP at Velocity Catalyst Fund, a $50M fund aimed at fostering pre-seed startups in crucial industries, Desiree also holds the position of Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of TechRise at P33 Chicago, an initiative focused on aiding Black and Latinx tech entrepreneurs. As a co-founder of The Josephine Collective, Desiree promotes accessible angel investing, particularly for women and people of color. Previously, Desiree founded Pearachute, the largest aggregator of family-friendly activities, and GiveForward, a pioneering crowdfunding platform for individuals facing medical crises. An alumnus of Yale University, Desiree has also advised organizations such as the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and taught at the Kellogg School of Management.