Emerson Collective
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $100K – $1M
- Stage
- Seed, Series A, Series B+
- Sectors
- AI, Climate, EdTech
- Founded
- 2011
- HQ
- Palo Alto, CA
About Emerson Collective
Emerson Collective is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, CA founded in 2004. Emerson Collective is a company that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose and a sense of possibility. We are working to create a world that honors talent, expands opportunity, and ensures the conditions for human flourishing. The firm focuses on Pre-Seed, Seed investments across sectors including AI, Climate, EdTech.
Notable portfolio companies include The Atlantic, Axios, Medium, Clover Health and Andela. Hybrid organization combining venture investing with advocacy and philanthropy, focusing on education, immigration, environment, and media.
Investment Thesis
“Hybrid organization combining venture investing with advocacy and philanthropy, focusing on education, immigration, environment, and media.”
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
- Emerson Collective is organized as a limited liability company rather than a fund partnership, so it raises no outside capital and files no Form D; a search of federal exempt-offering records returns no Emerson Collective vehicle.
- Laurene Powell Jobs supplies the capital directly, which means there are no fund names, vintages, closes or limited partners to report, and the organization publishes no assets-under-management figure.
- The $3.5 billion commonly attached to it corresponds instead to the Waverley Street Foundation, the separate climate vehicle Powell Jobs endowed with a $3.5 billion, ten-year commitment.
- The LLC structure lets Emerson move between grantmaking, advocacy, impact investing and outright ownership without the stage limits or hold-period constraints a fund charter imposes.
- Its capital has gone to a majority stake in The Atlantic in July 2017, a 2016 Series A in Axios Media exited in 2022, a lead position in Amplify in 2015, and later rounds in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Boom Supersonic, Gimlet Media, Zap Energy, Twelve and Antora Energy.
Team (2)
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Emerson Collective invest at?
Emerson Collective primarily invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are building their initial product and finding product-market fit.
Where is Emerson Collective located?
Emerson Collective is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Emerson Collective focus on?
Emerson Collective focuses on investments in AI, Climate, EdTech. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Emerson Collective's typical check size?
Emerson Collective's typical investment check size ranges from $100K to $1M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
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