Fundraising Fox

Antonia Dean

Investor

Partner at Black Operator

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

About

Antonia Dean is a Partner at Black Operator Ventures, where she invests in seed-stage technology companies. A Harvard Law alum, she spent a decade in cosmetics brand management working on products and brands for Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and Vera Wang, then raised a fund as an executive at Venture For America before moving into corporate venture capital at Comcast NBCUniversal. She speaks at events including CES, SXSW, and Black Tech Week, writes a weekly Substack newsletter, and runs an advisory practice, The Antonia Method, serving founders and investment offices.

Experience

  1. Black Operator VenturesPartnercurrent2025 — present
  2. Black Operator VenturesPrincipal2023 — 2025
  3. Sanctum FoundationFounding Membercurrent2025 — present
  4. The Antonia MethodFounder & Chief Strategistcurrent2024 — presentPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  5. Archetype Solutions GroupAdvisor2021 — 2026Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  6. Archetype Solutions GroupEngagement Manager2020 — 2021Greater Philadelphia
  7. Philly Startup LeadersBoard Member2022 — 2024
  8. ComcastDirector, Startup Pipeline Diversity2021 — 2023Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
  9. Venture For AmericaSVP, Chief Brand Officer2019 — 2020
  10. Venture For AmericaVice President External Relations2016 — 2019New York City Metropolitan Area
  11. Venture For AmericaDirector of Marketing2016New York, New York, États-Unis
  12. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.Director, Marketing, Brand Development, & Strategy2015 — 2016New York City Metropolitan Area
  13. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.Global Marketing Manager2012 — 2014New York City Metropolitan Area
  14. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.Assistant Manager, Global Marketing2010 — 2012
  15. Expanscience Laboratories dba MustelaAssistant Manager, North America Marketing & Regulatory2009 — 2010
  16. Coty PrestigeMarketing Coordinator2008 — 2009
  17. Ms. New BeautyCreator & Publisher2006 — 2008

Skills & more

LeadershipBusiness Innovation1Marketing Strategy35Competitive Analysis18Social Media17Advertising9Public Relations9Social Media Marketing20Event Planning7Strategic Planning6Business Strategy2Budgets1
+12 moreStrategyCosmeticsProduct DevelopmentMarketing CommunicationsBrand ManagementFashionBloggingMarketing ManagementMarketingBrand DevelopmentDigital MarketingManagement

Languages English · French

From Antonia's professional profile.

Colleagues at Black Operator

Dontae Rayford
Head of Platform at Black Operator
Ebony Peay Ramirez
Principal at Black Ops Ventures
James Norman
General Partner at Black Operator
Sean Green
General Partner at Black Operator

Frequently asked questions

Who is Antonia Dean?
Antonia Dean is a Partner at Black Operator Ventures, where she invests in seed-stage technology companies. A Harvard Law alum, she spent a decade in cosmetics brand management working on products and brands for Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, and Vera Wang, then raised a fund as an executive at Venture For America before moving into corporate venture capital at Comcast NBCUniversal. She speaks at events including CES, SXSW, and Black Tech Week, writes a weekly Substack newsletter, and runs an advisory practice, The Antonia Method, serving founders and investment offices.
Where does Antonia Dean work?
Antonia Dean is Partner at Black Operator.
Where did Antonia Dean go to school?
Antonia Dean studied at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (BS, Business Administration); Harvard Law School (JD).

Same school

Also attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University17

Floyd H. GriffithManaging Partner at Little Bristol PartnersShila Nieves BurneyManaging Partner at Zane Venture FundLivi GrantInvestor at MaC Venture CapitalHassan MuhammadSeae Ventures Fellow at Seae VenturesMeaghan GamboaAssociate, Investments at Acumen AmericaSydney HolnessInvestment Associate at Collab Capital

+ 11 more

Also attended Harvard Law School164

Keith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesKen ChenaultInvestment Team at General CatalystDavid GoldenManaging Partner, Revolution VenturesTracy Van GrackChief Communications Officer at RevolutionSid ShenaiVenture partner at Madrona and co-founder and CEO of Proof DiagnosticsRufus KingInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners

+ 158 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Philly Startup Leaders1

Jon GulardoPrincipal at Proofpoint Capital

Also worked at Comcast46

Ryan KingCo-founder of ChimeWesley BarrowPartner at Correlation VenturesLee JacobsEntrepreneur, investor, and cofounder of EdelweissTodd WallachEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation SpaceDaniel MurrayVenture Partner at Calibrate VenturesMatt CarbonaraInvestor at Mayfield Fund

+ 40 more

Also worked at Venture For America35

Andy CloydVenture Partner, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionMahati SridharPartner, Rise of the Rest at RevolutionSean McCroskeyVice President at Vast VenturesMax HaskinPrincipal at FINTOP CapitalKhalil FullerPartner & Head of Dorm at Pear VCRobin ChanInvestor at Goat Capital

+ 29 more

Also worked at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.29

Mark TowfiqVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalYu-Hsin WangAssociate at QuantonationFran AmicoExecutive Assistant at CAVU Consumer PartnersEileen WarisPrincipal — Ventures at Energize VenturesAnna LauringAssociate at VentureFriendsElizabeth LimStrategic Advisor, Fractional CMO & Consultant at Joyance Partners

+ 23 more