Sheila D. Collins

Fund: Rising America III
Location: DC

Sheila D. Collins is a dynamic innovation leader committed to advancing economic mobility. With a career spanning Fortune 100 financial institutions like Chase Bank, MetLife, and American Express, Sheila combines strategic thinking with financial expertise. She was part of the launch team for Small Business Saturday, a movement that now drives billions of dollars to small businesses annually.

As an entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, Sheila was a key member of the team that launched a tech accelerator focused on longevity, in less than three years there were over 500 startups, VCs, and enterprise leaders championing AgeTech. Her work on Closing the Racial Wealth Gap ensures that women and people of color gain access to the innovation economy, breaking barriers and fostering equity in entrepreneurship.

A 2x founder, Sheila leads Capital Curator, an innovation consultancy specializing in nondilutive capital, venture capital, and pitch preparation for overlooked founders. Certified in the Trauma of Money, she integrates financial empathy into her work, addressing systemic challenges that hinder economic progress for marginalized communities.

Sheila resides in Washington, DC with her husband and two elementary school children. Her recent accolades include Money 20/20 - Ones to Watch, BTA - Force For Good Award, CILAR - Inspiring Innovator of the Year. Sheila is a certified yoga instructor and FINRA arbitrator.  She sits on the advisory board for two AI startups and the SXSW Pitch Competition.  Sheila is a member of BLCK VC, Athena Alliance, MLT, and Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.