Kara Cissell-Roell

Cissell-Roell was early to spot the convergence of wellness and food and has capitalized on the trend big time. Since co-founding private equity firm VMG Partners in 2005, she’s backed some of the food industry’s hottest names: KIND, Mighty Leaf, Bare Snacks, Pirate Brands (think Pirate’s Booty), and Justin’s of nut butter fame, just to name a few. In July, VMG closed its third fund—and its biggest yet—with $500 million in committed capital. The firm recently agreed to sell its portfolio company Vega, a maker of plant-based nutrition products, to White Wave for $550 million. But Cissell-Roell and her team provide a lot more than financing. They mentor and work closely with the entrepreneurs they’re backing.