# Charlie Hipwood

> Charlie Hipwood is the President and CEO of MassVentures, Massachusetts’ quasi-public venture capital agency. A former founder of STAG Capital Partners, AI Exchange and Fluent Fintech, he combines early-stage investment with mentoring and commercialization support for deep tech entrepreneurs, including first-time founders and academic spinouts.

- **Role:** President and CEO at MassVentures
- **Organizations:** MassVentures, STAG Capital Partners, AI Exchange, Fluent Financial Technologies, J.P. Morgan, Level 3 Communications, New England Venture Capital Association, MassChallenge, Soaring Startup Circle, Shea Center for Entrepreneurship, The Venture Forum, Weston Little League, Weston Youth Lacrosse, Land’s Sake Farm
- **Nationality:** American and British
- **Education:** BA in Economics, Boston College, MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
- **Known for:** Founded STAG Capital Partners, AI Exchange and Fluent Fintech before joining MassVentures., Developed The Fundable Founder interviews and co-hosted the podcast with Stacy Swider., Led MassVentures during its 2021 funding of 67 companies with $6.5 million in grants and investments.

## Career timeline

- **1995** — Began his financial-services career at J.P. Morgan in capital markets.
- **2000** — Moved into corporate finance at Level 3 Communications in Colorado.
- **2003** — Founded STAG Capital Partners in Boston.
- **2011** — Founded AI Exchange, a financial technology business focused on alternative investment strategies.
- **2015** — Founded Fluent Financial Technologies, also described publicly as Fluent Fintech.
- **2017** — Joined MassVentures as a vice president focused on early-stage and seed investments.
- **2019** — Listed as Acting President of MassVentures in Massachusetts public records.
- **2020** — Recorded as President in MassVentures March board minutes.
- **2021** — Published lessons from interviews with dozens of founders for The Fundable Founder.
- **2023** — Joined the New England Venture Capital Association board; published his diverse-teams investment thesis.
- **2025** — Led MassVentures as it announced the Massachusetts Academic Spinouts Center.
- **2026** — Continued as President and CEO when MassVentures announced $4.5 million in START grants to 26 startups in August.

## Achievements

- Founded STAG Capital Partners, AI Exchange and Fluent Fintech before joining MassVentures.
- Developed The Fundable Founder interviews and co-hosted the podcast with Stacy Swider.
- Led MassVentures during its 2021 funding of 67 companies with $6.5 million in grants and investments.
- Helped mentor Cyvl’s founders and structure the company’s first institutional venture financing.
- Articulated MassVentures’ investment thesis that diverse teams outperform.
- Led the organization during the January 2025 announcement of the Massachusetts Academic Spinouts Center.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — MassVentures announced $4.5 million in START grant funding for 26 Massachusetts startups; Hipwood described a record number of applications.
- **2025-11** — Welcomed four new MassVentures board members appointed by Governor Maura Healey.
- **2025-01** — MassVentures announced the Massachusetts Academic Spinouts Center; Hipwood stated that academic spinouts represented over 80 percent of its current portfolio.

## Links

- Website: https://www.mass-ventures.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliehipwood/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/charlie-hipwood
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-09