Aaron Rankin
InvestorFounderInvestor at Sprout Social, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
FoundedSprout Social
Find your path to Aaron
394 people in our graph share verified history with Aaron — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Javier SolterounlockedAaron: together at Carnegie Mellon University (2000–2004)
×8Aaron: together at IBM
Aaron: together at Endeca
×2Aaron: together at Carnegie Mellon University
Experience
- Sprout Social, Inc.CTOcurrent2026 — presentGreater Chicago Area
- Sprout Social, Inc.Co-Founder & Board Membercurrent2009 — presentGreater Chicago Area
- Sprout Social, Inc.CTO2009 — 2023Chicago, Illinois, United States
- SlateAdvisorcurrent2025 — present
- RFV - private investment officeInvestor & Principalcurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- NutrisenseBoard Observer2024 — 2026
- EndecaSoftware Engineer, Special Operations2006 — 2010Greater Chicago Area
- IBMIT Strategy2004 — 2006Somers, NY, USA
- eCalIT & Web Programming1999 — 2000Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Skills & more
Enterprise Software17SaaS14JavaScript7Linux7Java26SQL6MySQL5Eclipse2Perl5Software as a Service (SaaS)3FitnessHealth & Wellness
+12 more
WineWine PairingPerformance TuningSystem ArchitectureCloud ComputingAgile MethodologiesBig DataSoftware DevelopmentStart-upsArchitecturesArchitectureDistributed SystemsFrom Aaron's professional profile.
Network9
Andrew MiklasScout
General Partner at Y Combinator
Andrew PetersonScout
Founder, Signal Sciences at Decibel Partners
Clint KorverScout
Cofounder, Managing Director at Ulu Ventures
David Murray-HundleyScout
Managing Director at Space Tech Ventures
Kathleen EstreichScout
Partner at Pear VC
Soraya DarabiScout
Investor at TMV Logistics
Mary Grove
Managing Partner at Bread And Butter Ventures, Llc
Micah Rosenbloom
General Partner at Founder Collective
Miriam Rivera
Cofounder, Managing Director at Ulu Ventures
Investors connected to Aaron in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Aaron Rankin?
- Investor at Sprout Social, Inc.
- Where does Aaron Rankin work?
- Aaron Rankin is Founder of Sprout Social and Investor at Sprout Social, Inc..
- What check size does Aaron Rankin write?
- Aaron Rankin typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What companies did Aaron Rankin found?
- Aaron Rankin founded Sprout Social.
- Where did Aaron Rankin go to school?
- Aaron Rankin studied at Carnegie Mellon University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Information Systems); Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy (Master’s Degree, Master of Information Systems Management); WSET (Level 2 Award in Wines).
Founder mafias
Carnegie Mellon University mafia481
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Kai-Fu LeeResearch Computer Scientist / Assistant ProfessorFounded 01Lucy GuoComputer Science & Human-Computer InteractionsFounded Passes +1Guillaume LampleMaster's degreeFounded Mistral AIJoshua XuMaster's degreeFounded HeyGenJonathan RothbergBachelor of Science (BS)Founded Raindance Technologies +4Andrew NgBachelor of Science - BSFounded Factored +3
+ 474 more
WSET mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Dini McGrathLevel 2Founded Wonki +1Narie FosterLevel 2 Award in WinesFounded MM LaFleurHeinin ZhangWSET Level 2Founded yhangryBastien Deliege-CosteLevel 3 (with distinction)Founded CertoRoy ReznikLevel 3Founded WizMichael BaumLevel 3 Award in WineFounded Splunk
+ 7 more
Sprout Social, Inc. mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Kenny CasonSenior Staff Software EngineerFounded Arrived +2Dexter HorthySoftware Engineer -- API/PlatformFounded HumanLayer +1Bradley KeywellBoard MemberFounded Echo Global LogisticsPeter SoungHead of GrowthFounded Sprout SocialPaul QuigleyGeneral Manager, Listening & NewsWhipFounded NewsWhipJustyn HowardFounder, CEOFounded Sprout Social
Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Carnegie Mellon University663
Kai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AILucy GuoCo-founder of Scale AI; founder & CEO of PassesGuillaume LampleCo-founder & Chief Scientist of Mistral AIJoshua XuCo-founder & CEO of HeyGenJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel Capital
+ 657 more
Also attended Carnegie Mellon University - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy7
Rahila SuleOperations Associate at Mulago FoundationJ GeimanAssociate Director of Development at Bridgeway CapitalPatrick LowryCEO at Samara Asset GroupGregory CrabbInvestor at Ballistic VenturesShipra JhaFounder at CorelayerSoofi SafaviFounder at Staircase
+ 1 more
Also attended WSET36
Ashley WhitehurstChief of Staff at Mighty CapitalRoss GoodwinVenture Debt Fund at Salica InvestmentsArif DamjiPartner at Conductive VenturesWarren RiddellInvestor at Eaton SquareJustine CarzinoInvestment Director at OneVenturesKevin RodriguesManaging Director at bp ventures
+ 30 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Sprout Social, Inc.7
Jim ContiTalent Partner at Hyde Park Venture PartnersBradley KeywellInvestor at LightbankDexter HorthyFounder at HumanLayerPeter SoungFounder at Sprout SocialKenny CasonFounder at ArrivedPaul QuigleyFounder at NewsWhip
+ 1 more
Also worked at Nutrisense3
Also worked at Endeca24
Steve SchlenkerInvestor at DN CapitalDaniel DemmerInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersJessica DowdInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersSteve WalskeInvestor at Streamlined VenturesAnurag SrivastavaFounding Partner at Jungle VenturesSteve FredetteCo-Founder of Toast at Underscore VC
-2.webp)
+ 18 more
Also worked at IBM1,227
Brian ArmstrongCo-founder & CEO of CoinbaseOlivier PomelCo-founder & CEO of DatadogAlexis Le-QuocCo-founder & CTO of DatadogKen ChenaultInvestment Team at General CatalystRoger KrakoffGeneral Partner at Monta Vista CapitalAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel Capital
+ 1,221 more