• Growing up in a challenging environment in Chicago 
• The mentality of helping others
• Failure is just part of the path
• Get through difficult times as a family/couple 
• The founding of Avante and fund raising during the financial crisis in 2009

BIO

Ivelisse Rodriguez Simon is a Managing Partner of Avante Capital Partners. Based in Los Angeles, Ivelisse is responsible for identifying, executing and managing investment opportunities. She currently manages the fund’s portfolio and new deal activities. Ivelisse joined Avante in 2009 as a founding member of the firm.  

Ivelisse has over two decades of middle-market debt and equity investment experience. Prior to Avante, she held positions at Palladium Equity Partners, Reliant Equity Partners and various investment banks including Salomon Brothers. Ivelisse serves on the board of several companies including Quest, LLC. 

Ivelisse is a longtime advocate and champion for women, minorities and the underserved and underrepresented. She holds leadership roles in several local and national non-profit organizations, including The Robert Toigo Foundation, The Hispanic Scholarship Foundation and Westside Family Health Center in Los Angeles. In 2019, the Robert Toigo Foundation honored Ivelisse with their prestigious Leadership Award recognizing her leadership in the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the financial industry. Ivelisse was also named to Mergers & Acquisitions magazine's 2020 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A. In addition, Ivelisse and her two sisters launched a philanthropic organization called We Will to support and empower underserved women and minorities in the areas of healthcare, education and financial literacy. 

Ivelisse graduated with honors from the University of Illinois and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives with her husband and three children in Los Angeles and enjoys taking adventurous trips with her family to far-flung places.