Fundraising Fox

Ben Smith

Investor

Venture Partner at Accelerator Ventures

Fairhope, Alabama, United States

Writes $50K – $500K checks · typically $200K

About

Ben Smith is Vice Chairman of Innovation and Ventures at Kearney, where he has served as a senior partner for over 30 years and founded the firm's Digital, AI, and Analytics practice. He advises technology companies and enterprises on strategic issues including innovation, partnerships, and acquisitions across multiple industries and geographies, and has held roles as entrepreneur, board member, and investor in over 40 ventures. Smith previously led Kearney's Communications, Media, and Technology Practice, co-founded the firm's Board Ready platform, and served as Senior Adviser for Strategy and Planning to the Secretary of Transportation following 9-11.

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Experience

  1. KearneyVice Chairman, Innovation and Venturescurrent2026 — presentFairhope, Alabama, United States
  2. KearneyBoard Member, Chairman Finance and Audit Committeecurrent2021 — presentFairhope, Alabama, United States
  3. KearneyChairman, Global Practice Lead- Digital, AI and Analytics Practice, Managing Partner Leadership Team2023 — 2026Fairhope, Alabama, United States
  4. KearneySenior Partner, Americas Practice Leader- Communications, Media, and Technology Practice2018 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
  5. KearneySenior Partner-Communications, Media, and Technology Practice2016 — 2018San Jose, California, United States
  6. Cendana CapitalAdvisor and Limited Partnercurrent2010 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  7. The Futurum GroupBoard Membercurrent2026 — presentNorth America
  8. Enlighten VenturesFounder and Partner2001 — 2024
  9. VF Venture FoundryStrategic Advisor2021 — 2024
  10. Spoke SoftwareCo-Founder and Board Member2006 — 2024Silicon Valley
  11. ACCELERATOR VENTURE CAPITALVenture Partner2011 — 2023San Francisco Bay Area
  12. Glu MobileBoard of Directors2010 — 2021www.glu.com
  13. BTSIV, LLCManaging Partner2001 — 2018Silicon Valley, California
  14. Wanderful MediaChief Executive Officer2012 — 2016Silicon Valley, Ca
  15. Reply.comPresident Reply! Media2011Mountain View, Ca
  16. MerchantCircle (sold to Reply, 2011)Co-Founder,CEO and Chairman of Board2004 — 2011Mountain View, Ca
  17. TapulousBoard2008 — 2010Palo Alto, California, United States
  18. Rustic Canyon PartnersExecutive in Residence2004 — 2009
  19. Borland SoftwareChief Executive Officer (CodeGear)2006 — 2007
  20. Borland SoftwareSVP Corporate Development/Strategic Advisor2005 — 2007Silicon Valley

Education

  1. Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of BusinessMSIA/MBA, Strategy1991 — 1993
  2. University of California, DavisBSME, Mechanical Engineering1986 — 1991
  3. Northwestern University - Kellogg School of ManagementCorporate Governance and Effectiveness in the Board Room2025
  4. Foothill High School1984 — 1986
  5. Fairhope High School1982 — 1984

Skills & more

Software as a Service (SaaS)Enterprise Software38Salesforce.com4Board LevelData CentersBoard GovernanceQuantum ComputingSemiconductor IndustryInnovation ManagementMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Artificial Intelligence (AI)1Mergers18
+12 moreStrategic PlanningMarketing StrategyVenture CapitalCompany TurnaroundEntrepreneurshipNew Business DevelopmentCorporate DevelopmentProduct ManagementCorporate FinanceJoint VenturesDivestituresBusiness Development

From Ben's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business52

Cindy PadnosFounder and Managing Partner at Illuminate VenturesMarkInvestor at Yu GalaxyMarco DeMirozGeneral Partner & Co-founder at The Venture Reality FundMurli RaviCo-founder and Managing Partner at Tin Men CapitalJensen WarnockCOO at Mercato PartnersDaphne CarmeliFounder, Entrepreneur, CEO, Angel Investor, Philanthropist, Advisor and Board Member at XRC

+ 46 more

Also attended University of California, Davis120

Charles CallSLP & Venture Partner at Cottonwood Technology FundDavid PhuController at Felicis VenturesBryan EglanDirector of Business Development at Menlo VenturesScott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersMasoud AdinaHead of Compliance at GreycroftAva EitzenPortfolio Support at 8VC

+ 114 more

Also attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management521

Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalDavid Clark GuillermoInvestments at Impact America FundGiuseppe DonvitoPartner at P101 VenturesAntonio TurroniOperating Advisor at P101 VenturesJon TurowVenture Partner at Madrona Venture Group

+ 515 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Kearney114

Wendy XiaoPartner at NorthzoneSheng Xin YuInvestment Analyst at Burda Principal InvestmentsAdrián MachoAssociate at Inveready Technology Investment GroupPatrik BackmanGeneral Partner at OpenOceanJigar RaythathaInvestor at Third Rock VenturesRaoulInvestor at Eudemian Ventures

+ 108 more

Also worked at The Futurum Group1

Dr. Robert SutorTechnical Advisor at Forma Prime

Also worked at Spoke Software2

Karina El BazeInvestor at Khosla VenturesMatt MaurerInvestor at WVV Capital

Also worked at Reply.com1

Payam ZamaniFounder at One Planet Group

Colleagues at Accelerator Ventures

Alexander Lloyd
Founder & Managing Director at Accelerator Ventures
Chantalle Dumonceaux
Venture Partner at Accelerator Ventures
Tom Cervantez
Venture Partner at Accelerator Ventures

Network1

Alexander Lloyd
Founder & Managing Director at Accelerator Ventures

Investors connected to Ben in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.