# Sheel Mohnot

> Sheel Mohnot is a San Francisco-based fintech investor and co-founder of Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV), a $300M+ seed-stage fund backing fintech companies globally. A two-time fintech founder himself - having built and exited FeeFighters (acquired by Groupon, 2012) and Innovative Auctions - Sheel brings rare operator credibility to early-stage investing. He co-founded The Pitch podcast, co-leads BTV's The Mint accelerator, and is one of fintech's most-followed voices on Twitter/X with 150K+ followers. Known for his fintech-only thesis, global portfolio (33% outside US), and a Taco Bell metaverse wedding officiated by Kal Penn.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & General Partner at Better Tomorrow Ventures
- **Organizations:** Better Tomorrow Ventures, The Mint Accelerator, The Pitch Podcast, FeeFighters (acquired by Groupon), Innovative Auctions, 500 Startups / 500 Fintech, Kiva.org, Boston Consulting Group
- **From:** Pittsburgh, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S. Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, M.B.A., University of Michigan
- **Known for:** Built Better Tomorrow Ventures into $300M+ fintech-focused VC fund across 3 funds, Two successful fintech exits: FeeFighters (Groupon, 2012) and Innovative Auctions (~2015), Early investor in Mercury, Ramp, Unit, Flexport, Albert, Kin, Coast, Relay

## Career timeline

- **2003-2006** — Software developer at Cerner; management consultant at Boston Consulting Group (financial services)
- **2006-2007** — Indicorps Fellow in India - chose grassroots work over Columbia MBA offer
- **2008-2010** — Program Director at Kiva.org; lived in rural India on $40/month; contracted typhoid; co-authored case studies with CK Prahalad
- **2008** — Received University of Michigan MBA
- **2010** — Co-founded FeeFighters - reverse auction marketplace for credit card processing; raised $1.6M from 500 Startups
- **2012** — FeeFighters acquired by Groupon - first successful fintech exit
- **2013-2015** — Founded Innovative Auctions - high-stakes private auction platform; achieved $600M+ GMV before exit
- **2015** — Co-founded The Pitch podcast with Josh Muccio (premiered June 21, 2015; later joined Gimlet/Spotify ecosystem)
- **2015-2019** — Partner & GP at 500 Startups running 500 Fintech accelerator and fund
- **2019** — Co-founded Better Tomorrow Ventures (BTV) with Jake Gibson (NerdWallet co-founder)
- **2020** — BTV closes Fund I at $75M
- **2022** — BTV closes Fund II at $225M ($150M core + $75M opportunity fund)
- **2023** — Launched The Mint - pre-seed fintech accelerator; married Amruta Godbole in Taco Bell Metaverse (officiated by Kal Penn)
- **2025** — BTV closes Fund III at $140M; Q1 2025 described as BTV's best quarter ever

## Achievements

- Built Better Tomorrow Ventures into $300M+ fintech-focused VC fund across 3 funds
- Two successful fintech exits: FeeFighters (Groupon, 2012) and Innovative Auctions (~2015)
- Early investor in Mercury, Ramp, Unit, Flexport, Albert, Kin, Coast, Relay
- Co-founded The Pitch podcast (reached Gimlet/Spotify ecosystem, ~100K weekly listeners)
- Created The Mint - specialized pre-seed fintech accelerator (SF & NYC)
- 150,000+ Twitter/X followers - one of fintech's most followed investors
- Co-authored business school case studies with legendary professor CK Prahalad
- First couple to legally marry in Taco Bell Metaverse (Decentraland)
- Appeared in Justin Bieber's 'Stuck with U' music video
- Catalyst Fund Investors Advisory Committee member (emerging market fintech)

## Latest updates

- **2025-10** — Better Tomorrow Ventures closes Fund III at $140M - deliberately smaller to maintain seed-stage focus; plans 30-35 investments at $500K-$3.5M check sizes
- **2025-02** — Featured in TechCrunch profile discussing Twitter fame, fintech trends, and AI startups
- **2025-01** — Q1 2025 declared BTV's best quarter ever
- **2023-05** — Launched The Mint, BTV's pre-seed fintech accelerator, in SF and NYC
- **2023-02** — Legally married Amruta Godbole in Taco Bell Metaverse (Decentraland), officiated by Kal Penn

## Links

- Website: https://sheel.wtf
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smohnot
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/pitdesi
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitdesi/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/sheel-mohnot
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-28