We’re excited to announce that Caroline McManus will be joining our team as an Investor! Caroline will work with the investing team to support tenacious entrepreneurs in the Midwest, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

Caroline has worked closely with startups over the past few years including her time at Cintrifuse in Cincinnati and as a program manager at gener8tor. She is also returning to work with us again after interning during the summer of 2023.

We spoke with Caroline and had her share more about her previous experience and why she is excited to join us:

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What made you want to work with startups?

I’m passionate about helping founders. I realized I wanted to be a part of this space when I was studying at Miami University and participated in one of the entrepreneurship department’s Startup Weekend Pitch Competitions. I became fascinated with how entrepreneurs can solve old and new problems by building high-growth startups. As I became more exposed to what entrepreneurship truly is, I began to uncover all the elements that make up a startup ecosystem and how you can impact a founder’s journey apart from joining a startup.

‍Can you tell us more about your previous work?

My first experience working with startups outside of the classroom began at Cintrifuse, a startup incubator in Cincinnati, OH. As a Startup Success Intern, I worked with a different company every few weeks, helping them develop a lean marketing strategy and tangible branding materials. Shortly after I decided to co-found a marketing and branding company for startups that I ran with a partner for about two years. After learning more about venture capital during my internship with HPVP, I joined gener8tor – a global startup accelerator. Over the past year, I’ve helped form a program called the Curql Accelerate, which is an investment accelerator for fintech startups that are interested in going to market with credit unions. This role included recruiting companies to participate in the program, coaching each cohort and supporting founders after they graduate. I plan to bring the same enthusiasm to HPVP that I did in my previous roles to find exciting opportunities and support startups as an investor.

‍What makes you excited about joining Hyde Park Venture Partners?

I’m most excited about digging into what new technologies entrepreneurs are building, having the opportunity to play a role in accelerating startup growth in the midwest and supporting our portfolio companies beyond the investment. Ultimately, I want to be a true partner for founders in the Midwest. I can’t think of a better way to do so than to be a part of a team that supports their portfolio companies in any way they can, and advocates for incredible entrepreneurs in a region that is historically looked over. I can’t wait to add value to this team and see all the great things that the firm will accomplish in 2025 and beyond! 

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Please join us in giving Caroline a warm welcome to the Hyde Park Venture Partners team!