Josh Kopelman
Chairman Emeritus at The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Overview
Work Experience
Founder and Partner
2004 - Current
First Round Capital is an early stage venture capital firm. We are seed-stage investors, often providing a company’s first outside capital, and aren’t afraid of investing in pre-revenue companies. We understand the challenges of launching a new enterprise, having founded/funded over 300 companies in the last few years.
First Round Angel Track is a community of operators and founders looking to develop their skills and identities as early-stage investors.
Chairman Emeritus
2024
Chairman of the Board
2016 - 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer is the largest newspaper in America operated as a public-benefit corporation. Given the importance of local news organizations to our democracy, the Inquirer is working to develop viable, replicable models for sustainable local news enterprises across the country.
Director
2015 - 2016
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that covers local news, sports, homes, cars, jobs, and others.
Raised $3,365,000.00 from Meta Journalism Project, American Press Institute and Knight-Lenfest Local News Transformation Fund.
Founding Partner
2020
First Close Partners backs venture funds owned by underrepresented managers (“URMs”) -- especially to help them get to a “first close.” We invest in venture capital firms owned and operated by URMs who are people of color, women, LGBTQIA+, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and members of other groups that have been historically underrepresented, especially (but not solely) in the venture capital industry. The venture capital funds into which we have invested are predominantly located in the US, Europe and Africa.
First Close Partners backs venture funds owned by underrepresented managers.
Co-founder and Trustee
2001
The Kopelman Foundation provides financial support to qualified not-for-profit organizations
Member, Board of Directors
2015 - 2023
Snider Hockey is a nationally acclaimed non-profit that uses the sport of hockey to educate and empower under-resourced youth of Philadelphia to prosper in the game of life.
Director, Board of Directors
2011 - 2011
Member, Board of Directors
2006 - 2009
Main Line Health is suburban Philadelphia's most comprehensive healthcare resource, operating four of the region's most-respected hospitals.
Bryn Mawr Hospital is heathcare facility.
Raised $2,000,000.00 from Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP).
Director, Board Of Directors
2003 - 2008
Founding Chairman, Board of Directors
2004 - 2004
TurnTide pioneered the world's first anti-spam route -- which worked by disrupting the economic model of spammer. The company was acquired by Symantec in July of 2004.
President, Half.com -- an eBay Company
2000 - 2003
Ran the Half.com business unit for eBay.
EBay Ventures invests in disruptive companies that are revolutionizing the commerce landscape.
Education
Bachelor's degree
1989 - 1993