Jeff Herbst
InvestorFounding Managing Partner at GFT Ventures · Board director at Watch Fantom
San Francisco Bay Area
Writes $100K – $10M checks · typically $1M
About
Former Nvidia executive who built its startup and VC programs, led 40+ investments, 20+ acquisitions (~$8B), scaled Nvidia Inception to 10,000+ AI startups, combining legal, early‑internet and AI‑hardware expertise.
Contact· published on Jeff's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareRobotics
Board director at Watch Fantom
Intro paths
→
In turn, Jeff can intro founders to Watch Fantom's investors below.
Watch Fantom's investors · 1
Experience
- GFT VenturesFounding Managing Partnercurrent2021 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
- Higgsfield AIBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- KnitBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- WethosAIBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- QortexBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentNew York, United States
- Switchboard SoftwareBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Mars Auto, Inc.Board Membercurrent2022 — presentSeoul, South Korea
- MperativBoard Membercurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- ArtisightSenior Advisor/Board Observercurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- MicroVisionBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentRedmond, Washington
- SK hynixGlobal CEO Advisory Boardcurrent2024 — presentGlobal
- NVIDIAVice President of Business Development and Head of Nvidia Inception GPU Ventures2001 — 2021Santa Clara, CA
- H2O.aiBoard Observer2017 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
- WeRide.aiBoard Observer2017 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
- Deep InstinctBoard Observer2017 — 2021Tel Aviv District, Israel
- FASTDATA.ioBoard Observer2017 — 2021Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
- HEAVY.AIBoard Observer2016 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
- TuSimpleBoard Observer2016 — 2021Beijing, China
- ElementBoard Observer2017 — 2021Greater Montreal Metropolitan Area
- Rocketick Technologies Ltd.Board Observer2011 — 2016Tel Aviv District, Israel
- Geomerics (now part of Arm)Board Member2010 — 2013Greater Cambridge Area
- mental imagesBoard Member2005 — 2007Berlin Metropolitan Area
- Alterego Networks (acquired by Macromedia)Executive Vice President of Strategy, Corporate Development and Operations2000 — 2001Redwood City, CA
- AltaVistaVice President of Corporate and Business Development1999 — 2000Palo Alto, CA
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and RosatiPartner1992 — 1999Palo Alto, CA
- Latham & WatkinsAssociate Attorney1990 — 1992Los Angeles, CA
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal CircuitJudicial Clerk1989 — 1990Washington D.C.
Skills & more
Strategic Partnerships99M&A experience51Start-ups99Product Management43Business Development79Mergers & Acquisitions84Strategy99Business Strategy30Mergers11Go-to-market Strategy19Venture Capital51Licensing9
+12 more
Cloud ComputingIntegrationCorporate DevelopmentBusiness PlanningManagementHigh Performance ComputingProduct MarketingMobile DevicesSaaSEnterprise SoftwareSoftware as a Service (SaaS)P&L ManagementFrom Jeff's professional profile.
Deals · 1
Watch FantomBoard seat
via GFT Ventures · filed Aug 2023 · $10M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at GFT Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jeff Herbst?
- Former Nvidia executive who built its startup and VC programs, led 40+ investments, 20+ acquisitions (~$8B), scaled Nvidia Inception to 10,000+ AI startups, combining legal, early‑internet and AI‑hardware expertise.
- Where does Jeff Herbst work?
- Jeff Herbst is Founding Managing Partner at GFT Ventures and Board director at Watch Fantom.
- What does Jeff Herbst invest in?
- Jeff Herbst invests in AI & Machine Learning, Crypto & Web3, Data & Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Robotics.
- What check size does Jeff Herbst write?
- Jeff Herbst typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What boards does Jeff Herbst sit on?
- Jeff Herbst holds tracked board seats at Watch Fantom.
- Where did Jeff Herbst go to school?
- Jeff Herbst studied at Brown University (B.S. with Honors, Computer Science); Stanford University (J.D.).
Same school
Also attended Brown University423
Theresia GouwFounding Partner at Acrew CapitalJoe GebbiaCo-founder of AirbnbDylan FieldCo-founder, CEO & Chair of FigmaAlexis AbramsPartner, General Counsel at Felicis VenturesJohn KimInvestor Relations at General CatalystAli Fisher SweetInvestor at Index Ventures
.png)
+ 417 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockDavid SacksCo-founder & General Partner at Craft Ventures; former White House AI & Crypto CzarKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital
+ 1,994 more
