About
Diarra Smith is Head of Portfolio and Brand at Ada Ventures, a London-based pre-seed and seed stage venture fund investing across climate equity, economic empowerment, and healthy ageing. She manages the fund's portfolio function, including fundraising, M&A, and business development, while overseeing brand and communications work. Smith previously spent over a decade supporting startups across funding and operations in the UK after working in Bermudian politics and studying philosophy.
Experience
- Ada VenturesHead of Portfolio and Brandcurrent2022 — presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- Ada VenturesVenture Partner2021 — 2022Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Year HereHead of Ventures2021 — 2022Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- BACKED VCVenture & Talent Scout2019 — 2022Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Knowledge Peers plcProgramme Director (Workspace Business Insight Programme)2016 — 2021Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Informed FundingOperations Director2014 — 2021Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Knowledge Peers plcProgramme Manager for the Cloud Innovation Network2013Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- VisaPolitical and Regulatory Monitoring (via Reputation Inc)2012 — 2013Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- GuideStar InternationalHead of Client Services at GuideStar Data Services2008 — 2010Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Bermuda Progressive Labour PartyPolitical Campaign Manager2007Hamilton, Hamilton city, Bermuda
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Education
- University of TorontoBachelor of Arts (Hons), Philosophy
- MiniMBAMini MBA, Brand Management2023
- Ridley CollegeOntario Secondary School Diploma
- The Berkeley Institute (Bermuda)High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates
Skills & more
Brand ManagementPositioning (Marketing)ReputationBrand AwarenessBrand Equity DevelopmentPolicy2New Business Development6Social Media13Research4ForecastingMarketing4Business Intelligence5
+12 more
GovernmentPoliticsCharitiesSocial EntrepreneurshipProject PlanningSocial EnterpriseBusiness DevelopmentBusiness StrategyManagementStrategic PlanningStrategyLeadership- Marketing Foundations for Fund Managers: Institutionalise A Category-Defining Investment Brand — EUVC
- Design for Inclusion (DFI) — Fearless Futures
- Product Manager Foundations — One Month PM
- Future Proof-Office — Real Innovation Academy
- TOP10 Finalist of RAHM 2018 - The Global LGBT+ Leadership Contest — UHLALA Group
From Diarra's professional profile.
Colleagues at Ada Ventures
Alasdair Thong
Founding Partner at Selvedge Venture
Ben Norton
Venture Partner, Talent at Ada Ventures
Charles Hudson
Managing Partner at Precursor Ventures
Check Warner
Partner at Ada Ventures
Ed Zimmerman
Steering Group at Ada Ventures
Emma Richards
Head of Finance at Ada Ventures
Marta Sjögren
Steering Group at Ada Ventures
Matt Penneycard
Partner at Ada Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Diarra Smith work?
- Diarra Smith is Head of Portfolio & Brand at Ada Ventures.
Same school
Also attended University of Toronto321
Yasmin RazaviInvestor at Spark CapitalImran BashirFounding Partner, Chief Operating Officer at Extreme Venture PartnersKarim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge CapitalAndrew MiklasGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorMike MontanoInvestor at True VenturesAlex KolicichInvestment Team at 8VC
+ 315 more
Also attended MiniMBA8
Hannah GreenInvestor at Mercuri.vcRosie BellDirector of Marketing at LRVHealthMichelle PlewsGroup Marketing Manager at Aura GroupJill KnaggsBoard Member; VP, Stakeholder Relations, Reclay StewardEdge at North Forge Angel NetworkKay Fox JoyceMarketing Manager at Key Capital PartnersHeath EvansAssociate Director, Climate Tech Hub at Swinburne Innovation Studio
+ 2 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Ada Ventures20
Georgia RitterHead of Marketing at Giant Ventures Global LlpAlasdair ThongFounding Partner at Selvedge VentureCharles HudsonManaging Partner at Precursor VenturesCheck WarnerPartner at Ada VenturesMatt PenneycardPartner at Ada VenturesMichael TefulaPrincipal and Head of Product at Ada Ventures
+ 14 more
Also worked at BACKED VC19
Harri PriceExecutive Assistant at Giant Ventures Global LlpAndreaIR at NAPLauren ApostolidisPlatform Director at AlbionVCAndre de HaesCo-Founder, Managing Partner at BackedAlex BrunickiCo-Founder, Partner at BackedTom HopkinsCOO at Backed
+ 13 more
Also worked at Visa81
Rajat TanejaInvestor at Foundation CapitalTodd ChaffeeInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Tony WellsVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalChris DegierePartner, Data Intelligence Group at TCVGregory BillingtonResearch at Transform Capital ManagementTuoyo LouisCo-founder and General Partner at Seae Ventures
+ 75 more