RACHEL SEBALD
ABOUT
Chicago-based Strategist.
I've spent the last decade building brand and communications programs for organizations in the middle of something big. Startups raising their first rounds, a proptech platform going public, a climate tech fund scaling a 50+ company portfolio across the Midwest.
I’m currently Director of Marketing & Communications at Evergreen Climate Innovations, where I lead communications strategy for the fund and its portfolio. Previously, I was Brand & Communications Lead at Techstars, held marketing and PR roles at Compass during its IPO, and spent several years embedded in early-stage startups.
Through every role, the challenge has always been the same: making sure the story is seen, understood, and trusted by the people who need to believe and invest in it.
WHY SPORTS
I've been a Venture Fellow with the Alumni Ventures Sports Fund and a Chicago:Blend Fellow. Playing a sport at a high level also shaped how I think about teams, performance, and what it takes to pursue excellence. I've spent the last few years focused on the sports infrastructure and emerging leagues space as new clubs and teams are forming, mixed-use stadium districts are reshaping cities, and women's sports are finally getting the investment they've always deserved.
But the constraint shows up quickly. Ambition is high, but the execution is fragmented. What’s often missing is the clarity and stratefgic support needed to translate that ambition into capital, partnerships, and long-term viability.
My background spans venture, early-stage companies, and communications at high-stakes moments. I’ve seen how much outcomes depend on whether a story is clear, credible, and ready for the people who need to believe in it.
I started the sports ventures side of my freelance work because I kept seeing the same gap in great teams and developments with real community potential -- undersupported on the marketing and storytelling side at moments where it matters most.
Rachel Sebald
SERVICES
Ways to work with me.
01
Focused Sprints
A short engagement focused on one priority, like your positioning, messaging, or launch plan.
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Brand positioning and messaging framework
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Audience and competitive review
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Strategic brief with clear recommendations
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Revisions included
03
Project Advisory
Strategic support for high-stakes projects like a community launch, civic pitch, naming rights conversation, or season ticket push.
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Stakeholder and community engagement strategy
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Communications planning for key milestones
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Public-facing narrative development
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Coordination with legal, PR, and civic partners
02
Fractional Engagement
Ongoing strategic support for teams that need senior help but do not need a full-time hire.
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Monthly strategy sessions and meeting support
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Stakeholder messaging and outreach planning
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Content direction and editorial oversight
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Async access for questions and reviews
04
Pitch & Launch Advisory
Support for founders and ownership groups preparing to raise capital, pitch partners, or enter a new market.
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Pitch narrative and story structure
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Investor and partner materials
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Presentation coaching and messaging refinement
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Launch communications planning
Not sure which engagement makes sense? We can talk through it.
SPEAKING & EVENTS
TESTIMONIALS
"Rachel supported our executive team at Techstars and kept brand and communications consistent and sharp across our accelerator programs. She drafted executive communications, kept us press-ready, and had a natural instinct for what the story should be and how to tell it. She's the kind of strategist who makes everyone around her look good."
Crystelle Desnoyer
Partnerships, Adobe
Rachel and I worked closely together at Compass, and she’s truly one of the smartest and strongest executors I’ve ever worked with. She’s incredibly data-driven, understands how demand flows through a funnel, and actually enjoys getting into the weeds to make things perform better.
Chanté Blough
CEO & Founder, Maison
"Rachel joined Lumanu as one of our earliest employees, fresh out of school, and quickly demonstrated the determination needed not only to thrive professionally but also to contribute to Lumanu's success during its formative years. She's a fast learner, always ready to support her teammates, and comfortable wearing multiple hats across GTM and operations. Over the years, it's been a pleasure to watch Rachel grow as a professional and discover her passion for launching her own venture."
Tony Tran
Co-Founder & CEO, Lumanu
"Rachel brings the high-performance discipline of a D1 athlete to the venture world. A standout alum of our highly selective Venture Fellowship, Rachel didn’t just master the fundamentals—she helped us architect new initiatives like Venture Club 101, proving she can build and launch complex initiatives from the ground up. With her Techstars pedigree and mission-driven work at Evergreen, Rachel is the ultimate GTM partner for organizations and founders who care about both the scoreboard and the community impact."
Joey Mak
CEO, Chicago:Blend
"Rachel joined PeakMetrics during our post-accelerator growth phase when priorities were shifting fast and we were building out foundational processes. She helped streamline our operations, shaped our client experience systems, and kept a lean distributed team aligned — all while working fluidly across disciplines without losing momentum. That kind of adaptability is rare. If your organization is navigating growth or complexity, Rachel will meet you where you are and make an immediate impact."
Bobby, Lincoln
Co-Founder & COO, PeakMetrics
CONTACT
Let's Build
Something.
Whether you're launching a new team,
building a brand, or ready to go to
market, I'd love to hear what you're
working on.
OR REACH OUT DIRECTLY: