Dee Thibodeau

Dee Thibodeau is the founder and CEO of Charter Solutions, a Minnesota-based WBE-certified consulting firm founded in 1997. Charter Solutions focuses on data, analytics, AI, product strategy, IT modernization, cloud, and professional services, with client concentration in healthcare, financial services, and government. Charter says the company has evolved from legacy application development consulting into modern data architecture, advanced analytics, and technology strategy work, serving clients across the United States and Canada.

Before starting Charter Solutions, Thibodeau held executive roles in software, training, and EDI businesses. Sofia Fund’s biography says she has held top executive positions in technology and financial industries since 1986, including serving as president of the largest computer training facility in the Midwest. She was also president of Arco Transcription and EDI Solutions, a translation software developer, where she negotiated a merger with St. Paul Software and later served as executive vice president.

Thibodeau is a Managing Partner of Sofia Fund, which invests in high-growth women-led companies. Sofia Fund states that its managing partners have invested more than $10 million in over 50 companies since 1998, and that the fund works closely with entrepreneurs by bringing capital, operating experience, networks, and exit support.

Her education includes a Bachelor of Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and completion of the Executive Management Development Program at the University of St. Thomas. Her board history includes M Health, Minnesota High Tech Association, Women’s Health Leadership Trust, BRAAS, Dri-Steem, Milestone Investments, The Credit Company, Microworx, Women Corporate Directors, and Minnesota Visiting Nurse Association.

• Sofia Fund’s core thesis is investing in “gender-diverse teams with disruptive, scalable business models that use technology to solve real problems.”
• The fund targets companies where capital can be amplified by Sofia’s operating experience, networks, and active support.
• Typical Sofia investments are $100,000-$500,000, usually in $500,000-$2 million equity rounds.
• Sofia prefers companies with proof-of-concept revenues, B2B scalability, proprietary positioning, large markets, and a credible exit path.
• The fund excludes food opportunities, real estate investments, and consumer-driven products.
• Preferred structures are preferred stock investments in C corporations.
• Sofia says it looks for companies where no more than 2-3 subsequent funding rounds are expected and exits are plausible within 3-5 years.
• Sofia’s founder-facing advice emphasizes investor fit, not just capital: “Follow the money, but find the fit.”