Tess Michaels

Founder, Clasp | Forbes 30 Under 30

United States

About

I love connecting the dots between ideas, people, and purposes — and challenging the status quo. I’m energized by ways to increase access to education, improve economic mobility, and drive real workforce change. We’ve got a long way to go but are many steps ahead of when we started. 🌟

Experience

  • Founder & CEO at Clasp
    Aug 2018 - Present · 8 yrs

    Venture-backed fintech platform that drives access to education and career pathways by servicing as the connective tissue between employers, educational institutions, and individuals. Venture investors include Crosslink Capital, Firework Ventures, GSV Ventures, Slow Ventures, Sinai Ventures, Pear VC, Flybridge Ventures, Firework VC Strategic investors include SHRM, Strada Education and Western Governors University’s venture arm

  • Private Equity Associate at Vista Equity Partners
    Jul 2017 - Aug 2018 · 1 yr 2 mos

    Vista ranked most active financial software acquirer from 2011-18 – $31bn+ in capital commitments (320+ transactions). o Executed LBO transactions and operational improvements for enterprise software and data companies o Acquired Obero, cloud-based Sales Performance Management company, as Xactly add-on o Acquired LogicMonitor, IT Infrastructure Monitoring software company o Evaluated business models, investment risks, and potential exit strategies o Managed due diligence process, including market study and adjacent-market M&A deep-dive, investment committee materials for funding approval, and management meetings

  • Founding CEO | Board Member at SOCEANA - Generating Social Good
    Dec 2012 - Aug 2018 · 5 yrs 9 mos

    Designed software analytics platform to democratize giving and promote corporate volunteerism. Acquired by Encast Inc. in 2018. Soceana seeks to generate social good by bridging the market for philanthropy ($330B) with the market for volunteering ($180B). Its engagement platform is powered by Philas, a patent-pending digital social currency. The network effects among smart and connected communities - corporations, philanthropists, volunteers and nonprofits - create social good of higher orders of magnitude.

  • Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs
    Jul 2015 - Jul 2017 · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Advised companies in the healthcare and consumer retail sectors on strategic / financial transactions, including M&As, LBOs, financings, and recapitalizations. Received Early Offer for Associate role at Goldman. o Developed strategic rationale and risks, constructed pro forma operating model and benchmarking analyses, and evaluated competitive landscape o Facilitated management meetings, developed growth plan, specified investor’s communication strategy, created ratings agency presentation, and wrote detailed financing memo o Buy-side advisor / book runner to Michael Kors on $1.4bn cross-border acquisition of Jimmy Choo

  • The Wharton School ()
    • Private Equity & Venture Capital Club - VP of Corporate Relations
      Sep 2013 - May 2015 · 1 yr 9 mos

    • Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club - Executive VP
      Dec 2012 - May 2015 · 2 yrs 6 mos