Work with Tiana

Build a Successful Startup — In-Depth Founder Support
$2,06420h of coaching
Save $2,916

Build an Investor-Ready Fundraising Deck
Starting at $1,16110h+ of coaching
Save up to $2,916

Early-Stage Startup Coaching — Fundraising, Building, Growth
Starting at $612.755h+ of coaching
Save up to $1,329
About
When navigating high-stakes career pivots, fundraising, or leadership leaps, technical advice only gets you halfway there. You also need someone in your corner who genuinely cares about your journey and understands the room you're trying to enter. My career spans venture capital, entrepreneurship, and higher education. As a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and the first trans woman of color in VC, I've spent years breaking new ground—advising Silicon Valley firms, co-founding initiatives for underrepresented investors, and serving in public economic development for the City of Atlanta. Along the way, I discovered that some of my most meaningful work happens as an educator and mentor, whether teaching at Spelman College (where I received the June Jordan Faculty & Staff Award) or working 1:1 with ambitious founders and professionals. I bring that blend of institutional insight, strategic rigor, and candid, wholehearted championing to every coaching session.
Tiana’s Startup Founders Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Executive
100+ Startup Founders clients
Tiana has helped clients get into these companies:
Former elite college professor of entrepreneurship, bringing a rich background in founding, scaling, and advising both mission-driven small businesses and venture-backed startups. I combine deep operational experience with a sharp strategic lens, honed across roles as a journalist, consultant, founder, and impact investor. My work sits at the intersection of purpose and performance—supporting early-stage entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, in building resilient, revenue-generating companies that create lasting value. Whether you're refining your pitch, navigating fundraising, or building systems for growth, I bring tailored, candid guidance rooted in real-world insight—and a genuine passion for seeing you win.
Tiana can help with:
Fundraising
Ideation
Why do I coach?
Everyone deserves a champion—someone who sees their potential clearly, even when they’re still finding their footing. I coach to be that steady, encouraging presence in my clients’ lives. Whether they’re launching a new venture, navigating a career pivot, or stepping into leadership, I’m there to amplify their vision, celebrate their wins, and help them move with clarity and confidence. Witnessing their growth and success is one of the greatest joys in my life.
Work Experience

Adjunct Professor
Spelman College
2024 - 2024

Founder & CEO
Tiana Tukes Media
2024 - Present

Business Development and Strategic Partnerships
Silicon Valley Bank
2022 - 2022

Principal
Colorful Capital
2022 - 2022

Founder
LGBT+VC
2022 - 2024

Research
Sequoia Capital
2020 - 2020

Management Consultant
Accenture
2017 - 2021

Strategy & Operations
Spotify
2017 - 2017
Education

Morehouse College
Bachelor of Arts, Cinema, television & emerging media studies
2013 - 2017
Grade: Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
5.0 average review
6 reviews
Overall rating
Tiana has helped clients get into these companies:



