Jennifer Carolan
InvestorGeneral Partner at Reach Capital
Palo Alto, California
Writes $50K – $10M checks · typically $5M
About
Former K–12 history teacher, co-founder of an edtech VC using venture capital to address educational inequality; disciplined investor focused on scalable personalized-learning tools, 7–10 year K–12 timelines, rejecting mercenary founders.
Jennifer Carolan @jencarolan
This excerpt from Fortune sums up what’s wrong with Philanthropy today: “Despite Scott’s extreme generosity in 2025, the Chronicle of Philanthropy didn’t recognize her on its list of the top 50 donors this year. That’s due mostly to Scott’s quiet nature of giving. She is
Jun 25, 2026 · ♥ 10
Jennifer Carolan @jencarolan
Banning Edtech Is the Wrong Response to the Right Questions https://t.co/9rQM9fLLUt
Jun 6, 2026 · ♥ 10 · ⇄ 2
Jennifer Carolan @jencarolan
$300B Reasons to Get Serious About Efficacy https://t.co/UN1Pji8xGi
May 21, 2026
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningEdTechFuture of WorkHealthtechSaaS
Experience
- Loyola University ChicagoMember Board of Trusteescurrent2023 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
- Reach CapitalCo-founder and General Partnercurrent2015 — presentPalo Alto
- Seesaw LearningBoard Membercurrent2021 — present
- DerivitaBoard Membercurrent2021 — presentProvo, Utah, United States
- StellicBoard Membercurrent2021 — present
- Stanford Digital EducationAdvisory Council Member2023 — 2025Palo Alto, California, United States
- OutschoolBoard Member2018 — 2023
- DesmosBoard Member2019 — 2022
- Ellevation EducationBoard Member2018 — 2021
- NearpodMember Board of Directors2015 — 2021Menlo Park
- FreshGradeMember Board of Directors2014 — 2021Kelowna, CA
- EdSurgeMember Board of Directors2014 — 2020San Mateo
- PeopleGroveBoard Member2017 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- BetterLessonMember Board of Directors2012 — 2019Cambridge, MA
- WriteLabMember Board Of Directors2016 — 2018Berkeley, California
- Broadway AngelsInvestor2013 — 2018San Francisco
- Bullis Charter SchoolMember Board of Directors2013 — 2017Los Altos, California
- Education ElementsMember Board of Directors2013 — 2017San Carlos, CA
- Equal Opportunity SchoolsMember Board of Directors2010 — 2015Seattle, Washington
- NewSchools Venture FundCo-Founder and Managing Director Seed Fund2006 — 2015Palo Alto
Education
- Stanford UniversityMA, Curriculum and Teacher Education2004 — 2006
- Loyola University ChicagoBA, Political Science1993 — 1997
Skills & more
+12 more
Educational LeadershipSocial EntrepreneurshipPublic PolicyFundraisingStrategyProgram EvaluationManagementPhilanthropyLeadershipPublic SpeakingTeachingManagement ConsultingFrom Jennifer's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended Stanford University1,578
+ 1,572 more
Also attended Loyola University Chicago17
+ 11 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Seesaw Learning2
Also worked at Stellic2
Also worked at Nearpod5
Deals · 2
EduvueBoard seat
via Reach Capital · filed Oct 2024 · $4M raise
AfterSchool HQBoard seat
via Reach Capital · filed Oct 2024 · $1.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Reach Capital
Network5
Investors connected to Jennifer in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

































