Rachel ten Brink

Yo, have you heard about Rachel ten Brink? She’s the real deal, no cap. This girl’s story is straight-up inspiring. She’s a YC alum from the S15 batch, but what’s crazy is how she’s not just another founder – she’s now a badass VC and general partner at Red Bike Capital, a fresh, Latina- and woman-led early-stage fund based in NYC. That’s huge, especially ’cause she’s out here pushing diversity and making waves in the startup game.

So, here’s the scoop: Rachel’s been in the game for like 15 years, and she’s built some serious brands at mega companies like L’Oréal, Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, Bacardi, and even P&G. She knows her shit when it comes to big consumer brands, and she’s crushed it in global markets. But instead of just riding that wave, she jumped into startups, co-founding Scentbird – the subscription perfume service that took off like crazy. She was CMO there, and they grew to over 500,000 paid subs and hit $200 million in revenue. Not bad, right? And get this – they raised $29 million in funding, making her one of the few Latina founders to hit that marker. That’s no small feat, especially in such a competitive space.

What’s dope is how she turned her corporate hustle into startup success, then pivoted into investing. She’s now all about backing the next wave of founders, especially in sectors like AI, SaaS, fintech, and health & wellness. She’s also a big advocate for diversity in tech – she’s out here pushing for more representation and inclusion, which is so needed. She’s served as a board member and advisor for startups like Dyper and AboveBoard, always adding value and sharing her experience.

Honestly, her process shows what happens when you combine hardcore corporate experience with a startup hustle and a heart for diversity. She’s the perfect example of someone who’s not afraid to jump into new things, learn, and then give back. She’s proof that starting something from scratch – whether it’s a company or an investment fund – takes guts, vision, and a lot of hustle. And she’s doing all of that while staying true to her roots and pushing for change.

Long story short, Rachel’s not just a founder or VC – she’s a connector, a builder, a leader. She’s out here crushing it in multiple worlds and making sure others can follow her lead. If you ask me, she’s one of the most interesting people in the startup space right now – someone who’s really changing the game.