Fundraising Fox

Earnest Sweat

Partner at GreatPoint Ventures

San Francisco, California

Writes $4M – $12M checks · typically $8M

Kauffman Fellow · Class 26

Find your path to Earnest

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

Tobi CokerunlockedEarnest: together at Kauffman Fellows (2023)
×9Earnest: together at Kauffman Fellows
×2Earnest: together at BLCK VC

About

Earnest Sweat is General Partner at Stresswood, a Series A venture firm focused on founders in applied AI, vertical software, marketplaces, and tech-enabled services. Over the past decade, he has backed founders who created more than $20B in enterprise value and advised institutions deploying hundreds of millions into venture capital. Sweat provides advisory services to LPs, family offices, corporates, and emerging managers, and hosts Swimming with Allocators, a podcast on venture capital with over 20,000 listeners.

Experience

  1. StresswoodGeneral Partner (Stealth)current2025 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
  2. Swimming with AllocatorsPodcast Hostcurrent2023 — present
  3. Public School VenturesManaging Partnercurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
  4. A Preacher’s KidFoundercurrent2023 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
  5. Kauffman FellowsClass 262021 — 2023
  6. GreatPoint VenturesVenture Partner2022 — 2023
  7. GreatPoint VenturesPartner2019 — 2022
  8. BLCK VCBoard Director2017 — 2022San Francisco Bay Area
  9. PrologisPrincipal, Prologis Ventures2016 — 2019San Francisco, California
  10. The Bridgespan GroupConsultant2013 — 2014San Francisco Bay Area
  11. MERIT, Inc.Founder & CEO2010 — 2013Little Rock Metropolitan Area
  12. BMO Capital MarketsEquity Research Analyst2007 — 2011

Skills & more

Strategy99Leadership19Management17Public Speaking3Team Leadership1Go-to-Market Strategy3Venture Capital85Valuation56Financial Modeling45Private Equity35Business Strategy23Finance21
+9 moreDue DiligenceBusiness DevelopmentEducational TechnologyStart-upsProgram ManagementEntrepreneurshipMarketingProduct ManagementProject Management

Languages English

From Earnest's professional profile.

Network4

Andrew Perlman
Managing Partner at GreatPoint Ventures
Avi Goldberg
Partner at GreatPoint Ventures
David Resnekov
Investor at GreatPoint Ventures
Mike
Venture Advisor at Ranch Ventures

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Earnest Sweat?
Earnest Sweat is General Partner at Stresswood, a Series A venture firm focused on founders in applied AI, vertical software, marketplaces, and tech-enabled services. Over the past decade, he has backed founders who created more than $20B in enterprise value and advised institutions deploying hundreds of millions into venture capital. Sweat provides advisory services to LPs, family offices, corporates, and emerging managers, and hosts Swimming with Allocators, a podcast on venture capital with over 20,000 listeners.
What check size does Earnest Sweat write?
Earnest Sweat typically writes checks of $4M – $12M.
Where did Earnest Sweat go to school?
Earnest Sweat studied at Columbia University (Bachelor of Arts (BA), Economics & Political Science); Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management (Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurship); Parkview Magnet High School.

Same school

Also attended Columbia University1,303

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)

+ 1,297 more

Also attended Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management1,130

Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaKunal BahlCo-founder of Snapdeal; co-founder of Titan CapitalCristina JunqueiraCo-founder of NubankAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalDavid Clark GuillermoInvestments at Impact America FundGiuseppe DonvitoPartner at P101 Ventures

+ 1,124 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Kauffman Fellows474

Jenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaRoi Bar-KatManaging Director at Intel CapitalAvi BharadwajInvestment Director at Intel CapitalNick WashburnSenior Managing Director, Intel Capital (North America)Justin HallPartner at Golden Gate VenturesMichael LintsFounding Partner, MENA at Golden Gate Ventures

+ 468 more

Also worked at BLCK VC36

Solomon HailuPartner at March Capital PartnersMaya MatthewsSenior Associate at March Capital PartnersBrian HollinsFounder at Collide CapitalShila Nieves BurneyManaging Partner at Zane Venture FundMichael FanfantGeneral Partner at Runa CapitalDenny GabrielVC Investor at Runa Capital

+ 30 more

Also worked at The Bridgespan Group23

Benji ShomairVenture Partner at Electric Feel Ventures LlcAtasha BozorgzadExecutive Assistant at Mainsail PartnersHansae CatlettGeneral Partner at The MBA FundDavid WasherInvestor at Adjuvant CapitalJake FingertManaging Partner at Camber CreekAriel JaduszliwerManaging Partner at Brainstorm Ventures

+ 17 more

Also worked at BMO Capital Markets130

Kyrstin SwanPartner, Capital Formation at Lux CapitalJustin KellerSenior Associate at Orkila CapitalTripp JonesInvestor at Uncork CapitalCarolyn WollAssociate at Volition CapitalLaura LenzInvestor at OMERS VenturesJeff LiebovitzInvestor at OMERS Ventures

+ 124 more