Samara Mejia Hernandez

Founding Partner at Chingona Ventures

📍 DuPage County, Illinois, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 21 investments📅 10 years investing🗓 Last invested May 2026𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United States20+ investmentsInvested this year
21
Total investments
12
Early stage
5
Mid stage
0
Late stage
10y
Years active

Portfolio

20 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
May 2026
Venture capitalists are committed to funding America’s most innovative entrepreneurs, working closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into emerging growth companies that drive U.S. job creation and economic growth. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital community, the National Venture Capital Association empowers its members and the entrepreneurs they fund by advocating for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment. The NVCA also serves as the definitive resource for venture capital data and unites its members through a full range of professional services.
Board Member
Oct 2025
Beagle focuses on the unique challenges faced by insurance service providers and their underwriters. Beagle is designed to streamline the property inspection process by providing real time accurate data, transparency and reduced costs. Our rapid response brings efficiency and expertise to every step of the underwriting process.
Board Member
May 2025
AI Automation for sales teams
Board Member
Oct 2024
Optimal AI helps engineering leaders measure developer productivity and optimize system performance, by using LLMs on source control, devops and project data. With Optimal AI, you can tap into team or individual metrics, backed by research and unavailable in Jira or Git. Optimal AI delivers visibility into important productivity and developer experience metrics, that bring the whole picture together.
Board Member
Jul 2024
Linker Finance is on a mission to help Community Banks grow through digital channels. We provide core-agnostic, out-of-the-box solutions for Online Deposit Account Opening, Business Onboarding, and Digital Banking for both Retail and Commercial Banks.
Board Member
Jan 2024
Viva helps landlords boost income (NOI)
while renters build wealth. Viva is a ‘rent to invest’ amenity that helps landlords make more by rewarding renters with benefits they care about.
Board Member
Jul 2023
Betterleaves award-winning, human-powered digital platform supports families and caregivers by leveraging a network of grief providers and care resources, helping healthcare providers deliver better outcomes through comprehensive, compassionate care. Through a combination of email, text, and live chat, Betterleave ensures that family caregivers are informed, supported, and never feel alone during their loved one’s care journey. Betterleave is backed by top VCs and angel investors, including leaders from UStrive, MATH, Chingona and The Fund. We have a long way to go to maximize our impact, but if we do our job well, in the coming years we will make a difference in countless lives. We hope you’ll join us!
Board Member
Jan 2023
• Papaya's Mission: Raising Equality in STEM • Our STEM world is not as diverse as we would like it to be, and we want to make a change. Our mission is to let everyone measure us by our drive to learn and our passion for STEM. We want to empower the communities starting at the college level by giving them the tools needed to have the confidence they need when it is time to take a professional career in STEM. • Papaya's Culture: Everyone has the Potential to Achieve Greatness • Giving you the confidence to change your approach to your hardest classes. We seek to inspire students by providing convenience and confidence in the way they learn.
Board Member
Oct 2022
Venture Forward, NVCA’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm, is on a mission to democratize access to the venture capital (VC) industry, empower individuals from all backgrounds and geographies to thrive as investors, and equip future VC leaders with the tools for long-term success. We support emerging fund managers and investors by providing education, mentorship, and resources to advance their careers. We are committed to driving healthy and sustainable generational change within established VC firms, ensuring strong industry stewardship for the future. Through these efforts, we envision a VC industry that reaches all communities across the country, unlocking greater innovation, economic impact, and financial returns. Learn more at ventureforward.org.
Board Observer
Feb 2022
Sigo Seguros is an insurance technology company focused on serving the Spanish-speaking community with fair insurance. The company provides transparent, reliable, and affordable prices that removes fees and biased rating factors that have disproportionately affected minorities. Additionally, the company provides coverage for customers with US and foreign licenses or IDs. Founded in 2019, Sigo Seguros is available in Texas and offers a mobile-first platform that simplifies the process of getting a quote, signing up, signing paperwork, and processing claims. Sigo Seguros makes it easy to purchase the right coverage for you and your family. For more information, visit https://sigoseguros.com/.“Sigo Seguros lo simplifica.”
Board Member
Feb 2022
Helping student athletes leverage financial decision making & planning for long-term prosperity during and beyond their playing careers. Scout uses educational sessions and an app designed for athletes by athletes to keep players motivated to make the right choices. #MoneyMovesWithScout
Board Observer
Oct 2021
Your shortcut to the best resale deals on the internet. Our FREE browser extension helps you discover the best listings from Poshmark, The RealReal, eBay, and more in one easy click. Enjoy the benefits of resale without the hassle of thrifting when you shop with Beni. Try it out today and let us know what you find!
Board Observer
Sep 2021
Innovare is empowering leaders in the education ecosystem with the essential tools they need to impact the people they serve. Our app Inno™ aggregates siloed data from student information systems, standardized assessments, attendance systems, EdTech solutions, spreadsheets, etc. into one personalized dashboard, and guides leadership teams to develop strategies, manage key project initiatives, and measure real-time impact. Our app is not just another dashboard; it combines data and strategic planning into one intelligent tool and comes with dedicated support from our customer success team who guides you to drive continuous improvement and achieve results. The Innoverse™ community of changemakers connects diverse leaders to share best practices, foster social innovation, and achieve collective impact. Got Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us to receive a complimentary consultation with our continuous improvement experts who will assess your organization’s unique needs. + Get time back so you can focus on your students, teachers, and communities + Easily track the progress of your strategic plan + Engage your team in a new continuous improvement culture
Board Member
Apr 2021
Committed to changing the future of exams. Certiverse solves the problem of slow, costly exam development and delivery through groundbreaking technology. Our end-to-end test services system applies industry-leading psychometric standards and an innovative, expert-sourced content model to make exams more available and affordable for learners. (formerly pValue Inc.)
Board Member
Mar 2021
ConnectCareHero helps drive real engagement for older adults, to help organizations meet their goals We are a digital health platform that uses culturally relevant content to keep older adults socially connected and significantly improve their health outcomes.
Show all 20 investments ↓
Experience · 28 entries
All (28)
Investments (21)
Board (21)
2026
Board Member
May 2026
Venture capitalists are committed to funding America’s most innovative entrepreneurs, working closely with them to transform breakthrough ideas into emerging growth companies that drive U.S. job creation and economic growth. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital community, the National Venture Capital Association empowers its members and the entrepreneurs they fund by advocating for policies that encourage innovation and reward long-term investment. The NVCA also serves as the definitive resource for venture capital data and unites its members through a full range of professional services.
2025
Board Member
Oct 2025
Beagle focuses on the unique challenges faced by insurance service providers and their underwriters. Beagle is designed to streamline the property inspection process by providing real time accurate data, transparency and reduced costs. Our rapid response brings efficiency and expertise to every step of the underwriting process.
Board Member
May 2025
AI Automation for sales teams
2024
Board Member
Oct 2024
Optimal AI helps engineering leaders measure developer productivity and optimize system performance, by using LLMs on source control, devops and project data. With Optimal AI, you can tap into team or individual metrics, backed by research and unavailable in Jira or Git. Optimal AI delivers visibility into important productivity and developer experience metrics, that bring the whole picture together.
Board Member
Jul 2024
Linker Finance is on a mission to help Community Banks grow through digital channels. We provide core-agnostic, out-of-the-box solutions for Online Deposit Account Opening, Business Onboarding, and Digital Banking for both Retail and Commercial Banks.
Show all 28 entries ↓
Investment activity
2016–2026 · 21 investments
20161201712019220202202142022320232202432025220261
Recent (last 2 years)Earlier