Melissa Krinzman: Managing Director, Venture Architects LLC
Melissa Krinzman
Melissa Krinzman has a 20-year history of starting, growing and advising private companies and non-profit organizations and is a frequent speaker on the topic of business plan development. Melissa is the managing director of Venture Architects LLC. She is responsible for positioning private companies for success in the capital-raising process through the development of business plans, financial projections and investor presentations. Since 1998, Venture Architects has worked with more than 500 companies that have raised approximately $750 million in investment capital.
In her role as managing director of Venture Architects, Melissa has led business plan and capital-raising seminars for entrepreneurs, executives, investors, students and nonprofit organizations across the country, including Cisco Systems, Columbia University, IBM, Independent Sector, MeadWestvaco, New York Angels, New York Software Industry Association, New York University, Northern Trust, Office Depot, Social Enterprise Alliance, Women Presidents’ Organization, The Miami Herald, The World Bank and Yale University.
Prior to joining Venture Architects, Melissa was recruited as the president of Tyber USA, the U.S. subsidiary of a European fabric manufacturer and fashion company, where she was responsible for its full P&L start-up activities. Among these activities were the organization of its import and distribution system, negotiation of an international licensing agreement, and the management of its sales, marketing and public relations efforts.
Melissa also played a key role in the strategic planning and launch of three national nonprofit organizations. She created social marketing programs with several Fortune 500 corporations for the nonprofit organization Do Something and developed national management and leadership seminars with world-renowned experts for the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management. Melissa began her career at The Points of Light Foundation where she co-organized a White House-sponsored, multi-city community service celebration.
Melissa received a bachelor’s degree in English and American studies in from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., and currently serves as a board member of the Miami Children’s Museum, Ransom-Everglades Alumni Board and Locust Projects.
