Shelley Kuipers

Shelley Kuipers biography

Shelley Kuipers, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The51, is an activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, driving business models that are more equitable, diverse, and sustainable. Prior to co-founding The51, Shelley was co-founder of IOVIA, a consumer participation platform; founder of a crowdsourcing company, Chaordix; and co-founder of a software development and marketing firm, Stormworks. Shelley is also co-founder of her family office, Adventure Capital. Shelley is General Partner of The51 Fund I, Fund II, and The51 Food and AgTech Fund.

Shelley is a serial private investor in startups and entrepreneurs who embody the type of future she wants to see: namely, those that are sustainable, feminist, purpose-driven, and unafraid to disrupt old systems. She has been early-stage investing for the better part of 20 years, with investment experience that started in energy but quickly diversified into the tech sector with a focus on innovation-driven companies. Shelley is considered a global thought leader in community, and she is highly sought after as a champion and mentor for entrepreneurs from around the globe.