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James Earl Brown III

Investor

Founder and General Partner at Arena Growth Partners

Austin, Texas

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

Find your path to James

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

John KimunlockedJames: together at Harvard Business School (1993–1994)
James: together at J.P. MORGAN & CO.
×7James: together at Harvard Business School
James: together at UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

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

Shared employers

Also worked at Meaningful Ventures1

Paul O'BrienVenture Partner at Meaningful Ventures