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Tim Schigel

Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures

Tim Schigel, Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures

Tim Schigel is a serial entrepreneur and investor who currently serves as the Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Cincinnati, Ohio.14 He has roots in the Midwest, experience in Silicon Valley, and connections around the world.15

Entrepreneurial Experience

  • Founder of ShareThis, a social media pioneer used by nearly a billion people to share online content every month. ShareThis grew to $50 million in revenue in less than four years, earning Schigel the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in his region.12
  • Launched and managed Cintrifuse, one of the best performing fund of funds in the country, investing in 15 top-tier early stage funds across the U.S.12

Investment Experience

  • Has been in venture capital since 19981
  • Prior successes include investments in Advertising.com (acquired by AOL for $435M), Get2Chip (acquired by Cadence), DotLoop (acquired by Zillow), and BuzzMetrics (acquired by Nielsen)12
  • Serves on the boards of several companies including StoryFit, Livegistics, and Folio Photonics2

Education and Background

  • Grew up in Cleveland as the son of a steelworker and Vietnam veteran1
  • Received his B.S. in electrical engineering from Case Western Reserve University13
  • Member of YPO, a global network of chief executives1

As Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures, Schigel invests in startup companies on a trajectory from seed to scale to hypergrowth.4 He is putting $3 million behind an effort to recruit "boomerangs" - Cincinnati natives who left the city and are now returning - to work at Refinery's portfolio companies.6

Highlights

Aug 6 · linkedin

Exciting News! 🎉

We're thrilled to announce the official launch of the Great Lakes Venture Capital Association (GLVCA)!

Founded in 2024, GLVCA is dedicated to empowering venture capital firms in the heartland by fostering community, connectivity, and trust.  Our mission is to cultivate stronger and more meaningful venture relationships, driving collective success within the VC industry. Check us out here: https://lnkd.in/gbC6tuNi  Kaleb Dumot Camila Noordeloos adrian fortino Chad Summe #VentureCapital #GLVCA #Greatlakes #midwest #Community #startups

Oct 14 · linkedin

If you know any potential "Boomerangs" who have experience hypergrowth and want to move back to the Midwest, let me know!

Related Questions

What are some of the key investments made by Refinery Ventures?
How did Tim Schigel's experience in Silicon Valley influence his venture capital career?
What makes Refinery Ventures unique compared to other VC firms?
Can you share more about Tim Schigel's role in the success of ShareThis?
What advice does Tim Schigel give to budding entrepreneurs?
Tim Schigel
Tim Schigel, photo 1
Tim Schigel, photo 2
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Experience

Managing Partner at Refinery Ventures since Jan 2017
Founder at ShareThis, Senior Manager at Grant Thornton LLP, VP at PHAROS Technologies, Inc.

Education

BSEE from Case Western Reserve University

Location

Cincinnati, Ohio