Fundraising Fox

James Earl Brown III

Investor

Founder and General Partner at Arena Growth Partners

Austin, Texas

Writes $1M – $3M checks · typically $1M

About

Experienced venture capital and private equity investor with 20+ years in the industry. Previously a General Partner at Polaris Venture Partners, where he led early-stage technology investments including a notable first-round investment in Akamai Technologies. Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a JD from NYU School of Law.

Experience

  1. Arena Growth PartnersFounder & General Partnercurrent2015 — presentAustin, Texas Area
  2. POLUNSKY & BEITEL, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONExecutive Advisor, eClose Plus.com Business Unitcurrent2020 — presentSan Antonio, Texas, United States
  3. SynMaxChief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer2024 — 2025Austin, Texas, United States
  4. CenterGate CapitalExecutive Advisor2023 — 2024Austin, Texas, United States
  5. CenterGate CapitalManaging Director2022 — 2023Austin, Texas, United States
  6. Talent War GroupFreelance Contributor2020 — 2023Austin, Texas, United States
  7. Dynamic LightChief Executive Officer2020 — 2021Austin, Texas, United States
  8. Dynamic LightBoard Member2020 — 2021Austin, Texas, United States
  9. VericlaveChief Strategy Officer2018 — 2020Austin, Texas Area
  10. Meaningful VenturesManaging Director2018 — 2020Austin, Texas Area
  11. UNIVERSITY OF TEXASAssociate Director, Finance, Operations, Entrepreneurship and Innovation2011 — 20163925 W. Braker Lane, Suite 1.9A, Austin, TX
  12. SPARKPHONEPresident & Chief Executive Officer, Director2008 — 2009Austin, TX
  13. VIRTUS CAPITAL PARTNERSManaging Director, Private Equity Investment Group2007 — 2008Austin, TX
  14. INVISIBLEHAND NETWORKSPresident & Chief Executive Officer, Director2001 — 2003Burlington, MA
  15. POLARIS VENTURE PARTNERSGeneral Partner1998 — 2002Waltham, MA
  16. J.P. MORGAN & CO.Associate, Leveraged Finance1997 — 1998New York, NY
  17. J.P. MORGAN CAPITAL CORPORATIONAssociate1995San Francisco, CA
  18. J.P. MORGAN & CO.Associate, Corporate Finance1994New York, NY
  19. US ArmyArmy Officer, Aviator1988 — 1992

Skills & more

Information TechnologyHuman Capital ManagementCorporate GovernanceCapital AcquisitionsExecutive LeadershipBusiness AnalysisFinancial AccountingFinancial StatementsFinancial ReportingP&L ManagementManagement CoachingTransition Management
+12 moreExecutive Team MemberInvestment ManagementExecutive CoachingGo-to-Market StrategyCorporate CommunicationsBoard GovernanceSalesMarketingEnterprise SoftwareFinancial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)Internal Controls and Risk ManagementTax Management and Compliance

Languages English

From James's professional profile.

Colleagues at Arena Growth Partners

Jorge Cantera
Investor at Big Brain Holdings

Frequently asked questions

Who is James Earl Brown III?
Experienced venture capital and private equity investor with 20+ years in the industry. Previously a General Partner at Polaris Venture Partners, where he led early-stage technology investments including a notable first-round investment in Akamai Technologies. Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a JD from NYU School of Law.
Where does James Earl Brown III work?
James Earl Brown III is Founder and General Partner at Arena Growth Partners.
What check size does James Earl Brown III write?
James Earl Brown III typically writes checks of $1M – $3M.
Where did James Earl Brown III go to school?
James Earl Brown III studied at Harvard Business School (M.B.A., General Management); New York University School of Law (J.D., Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies); United States Military Academy at West Point (Bachelor of Science, Engineering).

Same school

Also attended Harvard Business School2,000

Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesVictoria TreygerGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesDeep NisharInvestment Team at General CatalystAdrianna MaInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Also attended New York University School of Law93

Sallie KimInvestor at 8VCSean TraynorPartner, Legal at Lux CapitalEsther DominguezGeneral Counsel at .406 VenturesMichael HsuVenture Partner at Core Venture CapitalSteve SwerdlowSenior Advisor at Navitas CapitalJohn HadlPartner at Archer Capital Group

+ 87 more

Also attended United States Military Academy at West Point94

A.J. BertoneExecutive Vice President, Investments at In-Q-TelLes CraigInvestor at Next Frontier CapitalRichard ClarkeInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Aaron StachelPartner at FirstMile VenturesPatrick HenshawManaging Director at Render CapitalBen FawEntrepreneur-in-Residence at Context Ventures

+ 88 more

Also attended New York Military Academy1

Jorge CanteraInvestor at Big Brain Holdings

Shared employers

Also worked at Meaningful Ventures2

Jorge CanteraInvestor at Big Brain HoldingsPaul O'BrienVenture Partner at Meaningful Ventures

Also worked at UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS91

Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesMonica SolizDirector, Marketing at Sapphire VenturesAndrew WilsonPartner, Legal at Lux CapitalZaz FloreaniVenture Partner at FirstMile VenturesLorenzo ThioneGeneral Partner at Gaingels

+ 85 more

Also worked at POLARIS VENTURE PARTNERS43

Dylan PearcePartner at GreycroftGraham BrownManaging Partner at Lerer HippeauMichael GreeleyCo-Founder and General Partner at Flare Capital PartnersSimeon SimeonovAdvisor at One Way VenturesPaige LimOffice Manager at Square Peg CapitalKirti AnandFund Controller at Polaris Partners

+ 37 more

Also worked at J.P. MORGAN & CO.491

Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaErica VanInvestment Director at Intel CapitalEricAdvisor at Clear VenturesDavid GoldenManaging Partner, Revolution VenturesTodd KleinManaging Partner, Revolution Growth at RevolutionNick ZurickTalent Lead at Pantera Capital

+ 485 more