Ebony Brown
Partner at Rethink Education
Atlanta, Georgia
Overview
Work Experience
Partner
2021 - Current
Principal
2019 - 2021
Rethink Education is a venture capital fund focusing exclusively on education technology that invests in early- and growth-stage startups.
Class 27
2022
Co-investment VC firm supporting the mission of the Kauffman Fellows
Board Director
2021
Board Observer
2019
BrightHive helps companies link their data to empower decision making.
Raised $999,995.00 from Plug and Play and Village Capital.
Board Observer
2019
Board Observer
2019
CareAcademy offers an online training empowering senior care professionals to deliver the highest caliber of services.
Raised $33,314,999.00 from MassMutual Impact Investing.
Director, US Ventures
2017 - 2019
In her role, Ebony designs the strategy for the full entrepreneur lifecycle: sourcing, diligence, training & alumni support for Village Capital’s US portfolio. She oversees multi-million dollar budgets from foundation partners, providing the leadership, mentoring and guidance to successfully develop and deliver US programs across all five sectors. She oversees our pipeline development initiative for diverse founders, VC Pathways. She also represents the firm as a thought leader by speaking on panels, judging pitch competitions and writing articles as it relates to inclusive entrepreneurship and investing.
Senior Manager, US Ventures
2017 - 2017
She works across product, partnership, and investor relations teams to align external projects with the firm's core programs. She supports the operations of our investment readiness programs. She also established KPI metrics that incorporated gender and ethnic diversity into sourcing pipeline; reported to senior leaders on progress of program implementation and recommended ways the firm could react to opportunities identified to improve operations.
Senior Associate, Education
2015 - 2016
Village Capital is a seed stage venture fund and entrepreneur support organization. We find, train, and invest in entrepreneurs building solutions across edtech, health, fintech, energy and food/agriculture. Ebony led the sourcing, recruitment and program implementation for the Education US 2016 program.
Financial Solutions for Migrants initiative promotes financial inclusion for migrants, refugees, and women.
Education Circle Director
2014 - 2015
Evaluate potential edtech business deals and participate in capacity-building for portfolio companies of the nation's first student-led impact investing fund at the University of Michigan.
Summer Enterprise Consultant
2014 - 2014
Designed and implemented a business incubation curriculum for 21 agriculture technology start‑ups in Tanzania. Provided strategic guidance to facilitate scale and growth of these new ventures. The program that I designed attracted the attention of MIT D-Labs to be replicated in other countries.
Land O'Lakes is a member-owned, idea-driven agricultural cooperative that markets our products under a well known family of brands.
Assistant to CEO
2011 - 2013
Managed several business functions from the ground-up at small education startup to sharpen my leadership skills and build out my business acumen – recruited teachers/students, oversaw board governance/external relations and developed branding strategy during reorganization.