Before Melissa Kandinata was an investor, she was a tennis player. (Still is, in fact.) And while playing Division 1 tennis at the University of Richmond, Melissa honed skills that she applies everyday in her work with founders: “resilience, teamwork, and the ability to constantly adapt,” she said.

Melissa joined 53 Stations this year as an Investor, focusing primarily on healthcare and wealthtech. She came to 53 Stations from Baird Capital, where she invested in B2B SaaS platforms. Much like sport at its highest levels, “venture is a very competitive business,” said Melissa. “You have to have an edge, but you have to treat those around you with respect. Collaboration is just as important.”

She started her career in the public markets at Citi, then followed an emerging interest in impact investing to FHI 360, an international development organization operating in 70 countries. There she helped launch and scale their pre-seed investing accelerator, FHI Ventures. 

To further explore opportunities in venture, she pursued an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, earning a merit-based full scholarship. During this time, she crossed paths with Jason Pritzker through her finance fellowship mentor, Pat Grismer, Panera board member and former CFO of Starbucks, Yum! Brands, and Hyatt. “I was impressed with how the 53 Stations team was thinking about launching a fund so thoughtfully, using the deep expertise in certain sectors via a sole LP to inform how they invest,” Melissa said. “I found that dynamic super interesting.”

Using the vast TPO network to drive outcomes for portfolio companies has been a highlight of Melissa’s early months at the firm. “TPO’s positions in our sectors impact how we invest and where we add value, whether that’s customer intros or being a thought partner,” she said. “We sit with the PE team on the same floor, which affords us the opportunity to share insights and ideas on a regular basis.”

Looking ahead, Melissa said she is seeking out determined founders, ones “who intimately understand the pain points they are addressing and have the skills and team needed to effectively execute their vision.” 

The entire 53 Stations team is happy to have Melissa on board, and she’s already making an impact. If you’re a Series A or Series B founder in wealth tech or healthcare, we encourage you to reach out to Melissa to learn more about the firm.