JT

John Thornton

Senior Fellow at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

Austin, Texas

Overview 

John Thornton is a Co-Founder with a strong background in venture capital and journalism. He has held key roles at organizations like Austin Ventures and Elsewhere Partners, and has made significant investments in companies like SparkCognition and Spiceworks. Currently based in Austin, Texas, John serves as a Co-Founder at Elsewhere Partners and is actively investing in companies in sectors such as cybersecurity, analytics, SaaS, and AI. He has been a key figure in founding impactful organizations like The Texas Tribune and The American Journalism Project.

Work Experience 

CN

Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY

  • Senior Fellow

    2024 - Current

AV

Austin Ventures

  • General Partner, Managing Partner

    1990

    * Largest regional VC firm in the US  * Team of ~45,  ~$4 billion in assets under management * Joined the firm directly from business school * Co-led fundraising efforts to grow assets under management by ~20x * Top decile investor:  3.6x on $424 million invested in ~60 companies. * ~50 board seats in public and private technology companies

EP

Elsewhere Partners

  • Co-founder, Operating Partner

    2016

    * Boutique investment firm pioneering “The Series A of software private equity” * ~$500m in assets under management, team of ~15 * Lead investors include Dartmouth, Case Western, Phillips Exeter * Author of initial investment and fundraising strategies * Co-led fundraising * Focused on firm strategy and team building

TT

Texas Tribune

  • Founder

    2008

    * Largest and most important local news organization founded anywhere in the world in the 21st Century * Business plan author, seed investor, fundraiser, inaugural board chair * $150m+ raised since inception * Multiple journalism awards, Peabody winner, Pulitzer finalist

TribTalk is a publication that features perspectives on elections, economics, public and higher education, healthcare, and more.

tribtalk.org
AJ

American Journalism Project

  • Co-Founder

    2019

    *First of its kind venture philanthropy firm focused on local news *~45 grantees (including six built from scratch), team of ~40 *Business plan author, seed investor, fundraiser, inaugural CEO, board chair *~$200m raised from investors including Emerson Collective, Knight Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Macarthur Foundation, JP Morgan, Open AI

TU

Trinity University

  • Member, Board Of Trustees

    2023 - 2024

T1

The 19th

  • Seed Funder, Executive Committee Chair

    2019 - 2019

The 19th is a non-profit newsroom that covers gender, politics, and policy.

19thnews.org
TC

THE CITY (newsroom)

  • Seed Investor, Board member

    2017 - 2017

HR

Harry Ransom Center

  • Advisory Board Member

    2005 - 2007

BA

Ballet Austin

  • Capital Campaign Co-Chair

    2005 - 2007

Ballet Austin is a non-profit ballet dance training academy engaging the community, dancers, and audiences to lead a healthy and fit life.

balletaustin.org

Education 

Investments 

Semafor

Pre Seed

Total funding: $44M

Portnox

Series A

Total funding: $22M

Sellers Shield

Series A

Total funding: $15M

Tasktop

Series A

Total funding: $120M

Articles About John

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