Next Play Ventures
Venture capitalMenlo Park · Seed–Growth · 3 people tracked
Investment thesis
Next Play Ventures emphasizes coaching alongside capital, aiming to help develop the next generation of leaders and support their vision and values. The firm believes doing well and doing good are compatible, and that managing compassionately builds stronger teams and companies. It invests time and resources in organizations committed to expanding the world's collective wisdom and compassion, with a core belief that people of equal talent deserve equal access to opportunity, striving to close the network gap and create opportunities for underserved communities.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 2, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from the firm's website
Brian Rumao is Managing Director at Next Play Ventures, where he invests in and coaches founders building purpose-driven organizations alongside founding partner Jeff Weiner. He previously served as VP and Chief of Staff to the CEO at LinkedIn, where he worked on company strategy, business operations, and communications, and led the cross-functional integration following LinkedIn's acquisition by Microsoft in 2016. Earlier, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Jeff Weiner is the founding partner of Next Play Ventures, an early and growth stage fund that coaches and invests in leaders building purpose-driven organizations. He spent over 17 years at LinkedIn, including more than 11 years as CEO and six as Executive Chairman, during which the company grew substantially in revenue, headcount, and membership. Earlier in his career he was an Executive in Residence at Accel Partners and Greylock Partners and spent seven years at Yahoo!, ultimately as EVP of the Network Division.
Sean Mendy is a Venture Partner at Next Play Ventures and founding partner of Westbound Equity Partners, the firm's social impact affiliate that backs underrepresented founders, companies serving underrepresented consumers, and early-stage teams seeking to build diverse organizations. He previously served as head of development for the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula and is an Entrepreneur in Residence at Sixth Street Partners.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Next Play Ventures invest at?
- Next Play Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A, Growth stages.
- What sectors does Next Play Ventures focus on?
- Next Play Ventures focuses on Impact & Social Good.
- Where is Next Play Ventures located?
- Next Play Ventures is headquartered in Menlo Park, US.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamImages
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