James Joaquin
InvestorCo-founder at Obvious Ventures Β· Board director at All in Food PBC Β· Board director at MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC Β· Board director at Miyoko's, PBC
San Francisco, California
Writes $250K β $6M checks Β· typically $3M
About
James Joaquin co-founded Obvious Ventures with Evan Williams and former Patagonia executive Vishal Vasishth, a firm built on the thesis that venture capital can be directed at humanity's largest problems across planetary, human, and economic health. Earlier in his career he studied computer science at Brown, worked at Apple for six years (including product marketing for the Newton), co-founded When.com (sold to AOL), and served as CEO of Ofoto (sold to Kodak) and Xoom.com. He entered venture investing as a venture partner at Bridgescale Partners before starting Obvious Ventures.
ContactΒ· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechConsumerEnergyFoodTechHealthtechImpact & Social GoodMarketplacesNew Materials
Board director at All in Food PBC
Intro paths
In turn, James can intro founders to All in Food PBC's investors below.
All in Food PBC's investors Β· 1
Board director at MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC
Intro paths
In turn, James can intro founders to MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC's investors below.
MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC's investors Β· 1
Co-founders at MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC
Board director at Miyoko's, PBC
Intro paths
In turn, James can intro founders to Miyoko's, PBC's investors below.
Miyoko's, PBC's investors Β· 3
Co-founders at Miyoko's, PBC
Experience
- Obvious VenturesCo-Founder & Managing Directorcurrent2014 β presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- BatonDirectorcurrent2024 β present
- MoziDirectorcurrent2024 β present
- Incredible Health, Inc.Director / Board Observercurrent2017 β presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- MycoMedica Life Sciences PBCDirectorcurrent2021 β presentUnited States
- Nectar Allergy & AsthmaDirectorcurrent2021 β presentUnited States
- TorchDirectorcurrent2021 β presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- All RaiseVC Championcurrent2020 β present
- TaikaDirectorcurrent2020 β presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- beamDirectorcurrent2019 β presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- Miyoko's KitchenDirectorcurrent2016 β presentSonoma County
- EnerveeDirectorcurrent2015 β present
- CareZoneDirector2012 β 2025San Francisco, CA
- Nue Life HealthDirector2022 β 2023United States
- OK PlayDirector2020 β 2022Los Angeles, California, United States
- Welly Health PBCDirector2018 β 2021Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Keyo AI Inc.Director2018 β 2020San Francisco Bay Area
- Beyond MeatInvestor & Board Observer2014 β 2019El Segundo, California, United States
- OLLY PBCDirector2015 β 2019
- Seventh GenerationDirector2012 β 2016Burlington, VT
- Catamount VenturesPartner2011 β 2014San Francisco Bay Area
- TenMarks EducationDirector2011 β 2013Burlingame, CA
- Plum Inc.Director2008 β 2011
- Xmarks (formerly Foxmarks)President & CEO2008 β 2010
- Bridgescale PartnersVenture Partner2007 β 2008
- Xoom CorporationPresident & CEO2005 β 2006
- Ofoto A Kodak CompanyPresident & CEO1999 β 2004
- When Inc. (acquired by AOL)Co-founder & VP Business Development1998 β 1999
- Apple ComputerNewton Marketing & Business Development1989 β 1995
Skills & more
+12 more
Corporate DevelopmentProduct MarketingAngel InvestingMobile DevicesBusiness StrategyVenture FinancingMobile ApplicationsAnalyticsProduct DevelopmentStrategyPrivate EquityDigital MediaFrom James's professional profile.
Deals Β· 7
Well Found, Inc.Board seat
via Obvious Ventures Β· filed Mar 2026 Β· $13M raise
Miyoko's, PBCBoard seat
via Obvious Ventures Β· filed Jun 2025 Β· $8M raise
All in Food PBCBoard seat
via Obvious Ventures Β· filed Jun 2024 Β· $4M raise
Nectar Life Sciences, Inc.Board seat
via Obvious Ventures Β· filed Dec 2022 Β· $24.3M raise
MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBCBoard seat
via Obvious Ventures Β· filed Dec 2021 Β· $7.4M raise
Beyond MeatLed round
via Obvious Ventures
Diamond FoundryLed round
via Obvious Ventures
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Led
Incredible Health
Sources: the firm's website Β· SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Obvious Ventures
Network3
Investors connected to James in public investor directories β a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is James Joaquin?
- James Joaquin co-founded Obvious Ventures with Evan Williams and former Patagonia executive Vishal Vasishth, a firm built on the thesis that venture capital can be directed at humanity's largest problems across planetary, human, and economic health. Earlier in his career he studied computer science at Brown, worked at Apple for six years (including product marketing for the Newton), co-founded When.com (sold to AOL), and served as CEO of Ofoto (sold to Kodak) and Xoom.com. He entered venture investing as a venture partner at Bridgescale Partners before starting Obvious Ventures.
- Where does James Joaquin work?
- James Joaquin is Co-founder at Obvious Ventures and Board director at All in Food PBC and Board director at MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC and Board director at Miyoko's, PBC.
- What does James Joaquin invest in?
- James Joaquin invests in AI & Machine Learning, Climate Tech, Consumer, Energy, FoodTech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Marketplaces, New Materials.
- What check size does James Joaquin write?
- James Joaquin typically writes checks of $250K β $6M.
- What boards does James Joaquin sit on?
- James Joaquin holds tracked board seats at All in Food PBC, Miyoko's, PBC, MycoMedica Life Sciences, PBC, Nectar Life Sciences, Inc., Well Found, Inc..
- What companies has James Joaquin invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Beyond Meat, Diamond Foundry, Incredible Health.
- Where did James Joaquin go to school?
- James Joaquin studied at Brown University.
- Does James Joaquin lead rounds?
- Yes β James Joaquin has led 3 tracked investments.
Founder mafias
Brown University mafia114
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 107 more
Obvious Ventures mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Bridgescale Partners mafia3
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Shared employers
Also worked at Welly Health PBC1
Also worked at Plum Inc.4
Also worked at Bridgescale Partners3
Also worked at Xoom Corporation10
+ 4 more