Stella Ashaolu

Stella Ashaolu is a prominent entrepreneur and investor based in the Greater Chicago Area. She currently holds multiple significant roles:

Professional Experience

Founder and CEO of WeSolv: Stella founded WeSolv in 2017, a platform that connects top companies with diverse candidates through real project-based assessments.1 WeSolv aims to solve the diversity challenge in hiring for various business functions such as Marketing, Product, Finance, and Strategy.1

Co-Founder and Managing Director at Fifth Star Funds: In July 2020, Stella co-founded Fifth Star Funds, a venture philanthropy fund focused on closing the racial funding gap for Black tech entrepreneurs.1 The fund invests in early-stage "Friends & Family" rounds for Black founders in Chicago, addressing the critical funding gap at this stage.1

Background and Education

Stella holds an MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business, where she focused on Management and Organization, Entrepreneurship, and Operations.1 She completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in Accounting.1

Career History

Prior to her current roles, Stella's professional experience includes:

• International Exchange Fellow for the U.S. Department of State
• Senior Client Management Consultant at Gallup
• Business Strategy and Operations at Lowe Law
• Founder of Westside Student Tutors (WST)1

Mission and Impact

Stella's work at Fifth Star Funds is driven by her personal experiences as a Black female founder facing challenges in raising capital. The fund aims to tackle systemic biases in the venture capital landscape and has already invested in 10 Black-led startups, raising over $1M in community donations.1

Stella Ashaolu's multifaceted career demonstrates her commitment to addressing diversity challenges in both the tech industry and venture capital, making her a notable figure in the entrepreneurial and investment landscape.