Member Spotlight: Degelis Pilla
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Contact: degelis@tribetokes.com
Degelis (pronounced “deja-lee,” or “Dege/dayj” for short) is an investor, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for plant-based wellness. As the founder of the Tribe family of brands, she has built a business rooted in transparency, quality, and a modern approach to cannabis-derived products.
Her career began in more traditional financial and corporate spaces, serving as a Senior Research Associate at Sands Capital, where she covered nearly $2 billion in global retail investments, and earlier as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Global Healthcare Group at J.P. Morgan. She later transitioned into the startup world, becoming COO of several early-stage companies, including Instafluence—one of the first influencer marketing agencies—which was acquired by Maker Studios in 2015. Degelis is also a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds a CFA designation.
In 2017, she launched TribeTokes after recognizing a gap in the cannabis vape market: too many products relied on unnecessary additives and cutting agents, falling short of true wellness standards. What began as a solution to that problem has since grown into a multi-million dollar direct-to-consumer brand with over 100,000 customers. Today, TribeTokes offers a full range of hemp-derived cannabinoid products designed to support sleep, stress relief, pain management, and everyday relaxation—all formulated with a clean, ingredient-conscious philosophy that reflects the brand’s original mission.
After relocating from Manhattan and having to operate with a flexible, work-from-home model, she found The Co-Co. Beyond her company, she is an active member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and a respected voice in both the cannabis space and the broader women-in-business community.
Through TribeTokes, Degelis continues to redefine what a modern wellness brand can look like—combining scientific rigor, entrepreneurial insight, and a genuine commitment to helping people feel better, naturally.