Venture Capital

Elliott Robinson

Partner Bessemer Venture Partners

Elliott Robinson is based in the NYC office and a partner of the growth investment practice at Bessemer, where he focuses primarily on Cloud software investments. He co-authors Bessemer’s iconic 10 Laws of Cloud Computing and the annual State of the Cloud Report. He looks to partner with companies and management teams that are defining their market category while also maintaining a set of core values that will allow them to expand and solidify their leadership position. Elliott is currently a board member for Coactive AI, Databook, Hinge Health, Hyperscience, Imply Data, Netlify and Render. Additionally, he has led Bessemer’s investments in Forter, Statespace, and Canva. Prior to joining Bessemer, Elliott was a partner with M12, leading investments in companies such as Livongo (IPO: LVGO), BlueVine, Trusona, and Cooler Screens. Elliott started his career with Syncom Venture Partners, investing in both early and growth stage enterprise software and frontier tech companies such as CLEAR and Iridium Communications (IPO: IRDM). After six years with Syncom, he joined Georgian Partners, investing in a number of successful growth stage software companies such as TurnItIn (acquired by Advance), Kinnser (acquired by Mediware), and eSentire. Elliott earned his M.B.A from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Morehouse College. He is a board director of Venture Forward, BLCK VC, and a member of the Kauffman Fellows Class 22.

Aaron Samuels

Founder & Managing Partner Collide Capital

Aaron Samuels is Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. Prior to Collide Capital, Aaron began his career as a spoken word artist before working at Bain & Co. as a strategy consultant and TeleSign as a Product Manager. Combining his love for storytelling, strategy, and technology, Aaron co-founded and served as COO at Blavity, the largest global Black Media company, and AfroTech, the largest Black Tech conference in the world. Born and raised in Providence, RI to a Black & Jewish household, Aaron’s exposure to intersectional communities influenced him to share his experiences through writing and entrepreneurship. Aaron graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington University in St. Louis and received his MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business as an Arbuckle Leadership Fellow. Aaron is a Forbes Under 30 list member, a Cave Canem fellow, and a nationally-acclaimed spoken word artist. His debut collection of poetry is titled, Yarmulkes and Fitted Caps.

Stefanie Thomas

Managing Director Zeal Capital Partners

Stefanie Thomas is the Managing Director of Zeal Capital Partners, a mission-driven, venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C. that aims to bridge the wealth, skills, and opportunity gaps that exist in the United States. Zeal Capital Partners invests in early-stage technology businesses with diverse management teams and a focus on education, employment pathways, financial wellness, and health equity. Stefanie is responsible for spearheading the firm's strategic growth in pre-seed investments. She oversees the firm’s expanded commitment to Inclusive Investing™ through the newly launched Barclays Black Formation Investments (BBFI) initiative. This is a pioneering pre-seed investment platform backed by Barclays and managed by Zeal Capital Partners to propel the next generation of Black-led companies by providing critical early-stage capital and support to select high-growth technology companies. 

Stefanie is dedicated to democratizing capital access and identifying groundbreaking ideas that unlock value. She’s an early-stage investor with a decade of venture deal-making experience, from pre-seed to Series B. Prior to joining Zeal, she served as a founding member and investor at Impact America Fund (IAF) and helped grow the investment company from $7 million to $110 million assets under management with a thesis of driving economic power to communities of color. She worked on one of IAF’s landmark investments, led by Andreessen Horowitz. Her work included evaluation of more than 1,500 companies, deal leadership on 25 financings, and she advised CEOs on capital-raising strategies to close more than $75 million in funding. 

She co-founded the entrepreneurship platform for women, Women Who Launch, after noticing the lack of startup communities available to support aspiring women founders. Earlier in her career, Thomas served as Vice President in Citigroup’s global banking division. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for The Potomac School in McLean, VA. She also serves as the Jury President for North America for Cartier’s Global Women’s Initiative. Stefanie has presented at the Cartier Women’s Initiative, SXSW, the Aspen Institute, Google for Black Founders, Brookings Institute, Village Capital, Black Ambition (Pharrell Williams), Essence Festival, SOCAP, and JP Morgan’s Financial Health Network. 

She received her MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and her B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Ijeoma (IJ) Ejimadu (Moderator)

2Y Student Columbia Business School