Justin Ernest
Principal at Playground Global
Justin Ernest
Principal at Playground Global
San Francisco, California
Overview
Work Experience
Principal
2024 - Current
Venture Investor
2019 - 2024
Playground is an early stage venture capital firm with $1.2 billion under management and currently investing out of its third fund. Our mission is to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of category-defining technology companies. We seek to invest in innovative companies whose cutting-edge products will underpin the next wave of economic and human development. Areas of active investment include artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, life sciences, aerospace, cybersecurity, decarbonization, and other frontier technology. Playground has also assembled a world-class team of domain experts within engineering, design, machine learning, and startup operations, all of whom operate out of our fully-equipped, 80k square foot studio where the firm also hosts a number of its portfolio companies.
Board Observer
2023
Board Observer
2022
Board Observer
2021
Board Observer
2021
Board Observer
2020
Board Observer
2020
Board Observer
2020
Founding Venture Partner
2016
NextGen is a network-driven venture firm that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs. We invest in category defining early-stage tech companies such as Hyperloop One, Penrose Studios, and Carta. Our network of young startup investors are leaders in the entrepreneurial community who use their collective skills and connections to support the growth of our portfolio companies. NextGen has operations across the US, with the goal of becoming one of the most active and connected investors in the world. My role as an active venture partner is to provide support via sourcing, deal evaluation, and portfolio advisory.
MBA Extern
2019 - 2019
Consumer technology investing