Where does Donna Harris work?

Donna Harris is CEO + Partner at Builders + Backers.

What check size does Donna Harris write?

Donna Harris typically writes checks of $50K – $100K.

What companies has Donna Harris invested in?

Investments tracked here include GrubMarket, Guild Education, ID.me, KingsCrowd, MPower Financing, NXCR, Pacaso.

Where did Donna Harris go to school?

Donna Harris studied at University of Michigan (MBA, Strategy); Central Michigan University (BSBA).

Donna Harris

Investor

CEO + Partner at Builders + Backers

McLean, Virginia, United States

Writes $50K – $100K checks

Find your path to Donna

166 people in our graph share verified history with Donna — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Steve CaseunlockedDonna: together at Startup America Partnership (2011–2013)

×8Donna: together at Oracle Corporation

×2Donna: together at Central Michigan University

Donna: together at // Praxis //

About

Donna Harris leads Builders + Backers as CEO and serves as a general partner of both Builders + Backers Capital and 1776 Ventures, alongside a venture partner role at Praxis. Previously Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership under the Obama Administration, she cofounded K Street Capital and invests actively as an angel, and was named among the top 25 female early-stage investors in the U.S. in 2021. She also sits on the board of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Economic Innovation Group's Policy Council, and holds a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from American University.

Contact· published on Donna's own website

d•••@buildersandbackers.comreveal

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningConsumerCrypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureEdTechEnterprise SoftwareFintechFuture of WorkHealthtechInsurTechMarketplacesMedia & EntertainmentSaaSSocial

Experience

Builders + BackersFounder & CEOcurrent2017 — present
Global Entrepreneurship NetworkBoard Membercurrent2013 — present
1776Cofounder, General Partnercurrent2013 — presentWashington D.C. Metro Area
// Praxis //Venture Partner2018 — 2025
Startup America PartnershipManaging Director2011 — 2013Washington D.C. Metro Area
The World Academy for the Future of WomenBoard Member2011 — 2012
Commision33CEO2010 — 2011
Interpoint Group / National Strategies, Inc.Vice Chair, CMO2010
National Strategies, Inc.Chief Operating Officer2006 — 2010
Vale Solutions / KinderstreetPresident and CEO2000 — 2005
CentromineVice President1999 — 2000
CC CorporationPresident and CEO1998 — 1999
Oracle CorporationSales Representative1995 — 1997
EDS GroupSystems Engineer1990 — 1995Greater Detroit Area

Skills & more

Strategic Planning99Public Speaking40Management8Leadership3Strategy16Start-ups99Non-profits16Business Strategy99Business Development89Fundraising45Marketing Strategy49Strategic Partnerships99

+12 more

EntrepreneurshipVenture CapitalStrategic CommunicationsPublic RelationsSocial MediaExecutive ManagementGovernmentMarketingBusiness InnovationNonprofitsNonprofit OrganizationsManagement Consulting

From Donna's professional profile.

Investments

Investor

GrubMarketGuild EducationID.meKingsCrowdMPower FinancingNXCRPacaso

Per curated public sources.

Colleagues at Builders + Backers

Byron White

Builder-in-Residence at Builders + Backers

Courtney Baker

Director of Technical Solutions at Builders + Backers

Dave Dworschak

Builder-in-Residence at Builders + Backers

Donald Smith

Builder-in-Residence at Builders + Backers

Eric Sillies

Builder-in-residence at Builders + Backers

Erich Broksas

Chief Operating Officer + Partner at Builders + Backers

Gisele Gerry

Director of Marketing Solutions at Builders + Backers

Jared Stark

General Counsel at Builders + Backers

Network9

Greg BettinelliScout

Partner at The Chernin Group (TCG Crypto)

Kathleen HaleScout

Partner at Builders + Backers

Rick HeitzmannScout

Founder and Partner at FirstMark Capital

Sukhinder Singh CassidyScout

Venture Advisor at Acrew Capital

Aihui Ong

General Partner, Transform Capital at xfactor ventures

Atin Batra

Founder & General Partner at 27V (Twenty Seven Ventures)

Brian Keil

Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

Cassie Bowe

Partner at Energy Impact Partners

David Beazley

Managing Partner at Alumni Ventures

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Donna Harris?: Donna Harris leads Builders + Backers as CEO and serves as a general partner of both Builders + Backers Capital and 1776 Ventures, alongside a venture partner role at Praxis. Previously Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership under the Obama Administration, she cofounded K Street Capital and invests actively as an angel, and was named among the top 25 female early-stage investors in the U.S. in 2021. She also sits on the board of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Economic Innovation Group's Policy Council, and holds a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from American University.
Where does Donna Harris work?: Donna Harris is CEO + Partner at Builders + Backers.
What does Donna Harris invest in?: Donna Harris invests in AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Crypto & Web3, Data & Infrastructure, EdTech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Future of Work, Healthtech, InsurTech, Marketplaces, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Social.
What check size does Donna Harris write?: Donna Harris typically writes checks of $50K – $100K.
What companies has Donna Harris invested in?: Investments tracked here include GrubMarket, Guild Education, ID.me, KingsCrowd, MPower Financing, NXCR, Pacaso.
Where did Donna Harris go to school?: Donna Harris studied at University of Michigan (MBA, Strategy); Central Michigan University (BSBA).

Same school

Also attended University of Michigan811

Erik TorenbergGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz; founder of Turpentine Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista Capital Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North America Scott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital Zach PoleyPartner and Chief Technology Officer at Clear Ventures Tom DanilekPartner, Rise of the Rest Real Estate at Revolution

+ 805 more

Also attended Central Michigan University24

Doug NealManaging Director at eLab Ventures Sathya ShanthakumarDirector of Investor Relations at 7wire Ventures Nathan OwenGeneral Partner at Grand Ventures Greg HodgsonFormer Senior Director at the Boeing Company at NEW VISTA CAPITAL Mark McPeakVP of Manufacturing at Siddhi Capital Alane MillarInvestor at Madison Dearborn Partners

+ 18 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Global Entrepreneurship Network9

Dr. Mazin AlzaidiGeneral Partner at STV Jaime CaveroEarly Stage Mentor at Draper B1 Isaac GutiérrezManaging Partner at LAN Accelerator / LAN Ventures Kristin GarciaEcosystem Advisor at Cortado Ventures CJ CornellManaging Director at Propel Venture Partners Mario MitchellGeneral Partner at Mech Ventures

+ 3 more

Also worked at // Praxis //8

Brannon JonesPrincipal at AlleyCorp Evan LoomisVenture Partner at Audere Capital Jason LocyFounder, FiveStone at Tribes Ventures Ben ChelfGeneral Partner at Elementum Ventures Kenton JarvieFounder at Flint Jessica KimCo-founder & Executive Chairman at Ianacare

+ 2 more

Also worked at Startup America Partnership3

Steve CaseChairman & CEO of Revolution; co-founder of AOL Tien WongTech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO; Chairman & CEO of Opus8 Richard Swart, PhDFamily Office Advisor & Impact Investor at Sybilla Masters

Also worked at Oracle Corporation614

Marc BenioffCo-founder, Chair & CEO of Salesforce AyshaAdvisor at Clear Ventures Natalie VaisInvestor at Spark Capital Mark SiegelPartner Emeritus at Menlo Ventures Hope CochranVenture Partner at Madrona Venture Group Mark NelsonVenture Partner at Madrona Venture Group

+ 608 more