John Werner
InvestorManaging Director at Vestigo Ventures · Managing Director at Link Ventures
Brookline
Writes $3M – $8M checks · typically $4M
About
Managing Director and Partner investing in AI, an MIT Senior Fellow, five-time founder, and Forbes AI columnist who previously served as a VP at Meta (an AR startup) and led innovation at the MIT Media Lab's Camera Culture Group. He founds and produces events including Imagination in Action and TEDxMIT.
Contact· published on John's own website
Experience
- Link VenturesManaging Director and Partnercurrent2018 — presentCambridge Ma
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyVisiting Lecturercurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySpecial Assistant, MIT History Course STS.050current2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySenior Fellow, MIT Connection Sciencecurrent2018 — presentCambridge, MA
- ForbesContributing AI Columnistcurrent2023 — present
- MIT Connection ScienceChief Innovation Officercurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Liquid AIAdvisorcurrent2023 — presentBoston & SF
- MercorInvestorcurrent2023 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- BlitzyInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- OrnnInvestorcurrent2025 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- DonoInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- AaruInvestorcurrent2024 — present
- KintsugiInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- SundaiMember of the Board of Advisorscurrent2026 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
- Sublime SystemsAdvisorcurrent2024 — presentSomerville, Massachusetts, United States
- ideas in actionFounder, Curator & CEOcurrent2009 — presentBoston Area
- John Werner PhotographyCreator / Photogrphercurrent2010 — present
- VerijetStrategic Advisorcurrent2021 — presentFlorida, United States
- Bloomer TechStrategic Advisorcurrent2022 — present
- EverQuote ProAdvisory Board Membercurrent2019 — presentCambridge MA
- BRELYONStrategic Advisorcurrent2020 — present
- http://imaginationinaction.coFounder and CEOcurrent2018 — presentMIT & Davos Switerland
- AR in ACTIONFounder and CEOcurrent2016 — presentBoston
- Vestigo VenturesAdvisory Board Membercurrent2016 — presentCambridge Ma
- Imaging CafeCo-Leadercurrent2013 — presentMIT Media Lab
- Werner FamilyDad, Husband, Son, Brother, dog parentcurrent1970 — present
- Cogo LabsChief Network Officer2018 — 2020Cambridge MA
- Cogo LabsExecutive In Residence2018Cambridge Ma
- Meta Co.Vice President, Strategic Partnerships2016 — 2018Redwood City & Boston
- MIT Media LabFounding Managing Director of Emerging Worlds SIG2014 — 2016Cambridge Ma
- MIT Media LabProject Innovator of The Camera Culture Group2013 — 2016Cambridge MA
- MIT Media LabHead of Innovation & New Ventures, Camera Culture Group2013 — 2016Cambridge, Ma
- Citizen SchoolsFounding Team Member, Member of Leadership Team1995 — 2013
- Citizen SchoolsChief Mobilizing Officer & Managing Director1995 — 2013
- Citizen SchoolsBoston Executive Director2005 — 2008
- Citizen SchoolsFounder and Executive Director, 8th Grade Academy2001 — 2004
- Citizen SchoolsMember of Start-up Team1995 — 2000Greater Boston
- TEDxBoston.orgExecutive Curator2010 — 2012
- Harvard UniversityLoeb Fellow2008 — 2009
- Boston Public SchoolsTeacher1992 — 1996
Skills & more
Fundraising99Non-profits99Program Development99Community Outreach81Teaching54Social Media96Grant Writing25Volunteer Management32Program Management86Youth Development20Social Entrepreneurship47Coaching24
+12 more
MarketingSocial NetworkingEntrepreneurshipNonprofitsRecruitingLeadership DevelopmentStart-upsSocial Media MarketingPublic SpeakingLeadershipStrategyStrategic PlanningFrom John's professional profile.
Colleagues at Vestigo Ventures
Anders Brownsworth
Investor at Vestigo Ventures
Andy Putterman
Investor at Vestigo Ventures
Asiff Hirji
Advisor at Z5 Capital
Bill McCarran
COO at Vestigo Ventures
Brigitte Madrian
Investor at Vestigo Ventures
Christopher Dean
Managing Director at Summit Partners
Darlene DeRemer
Investor at Vestigo Ventures
Dave Blundin
Managing Partner at Link Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is John Werner?
- Managing Director and Partner investing in AI, an MIT Senior Fellow, five-time founder, and Forbes AI columnist who previously served as a VP at Meta (an AR startup) and led innovation at the MIT Media Lab's Camera Culture Group. He founds and produces events including Imagination in Action and TEDxMIT.
- Where does John Werner work?
- John Werner is Managing Director at Vestigo Ventures.
- What check size does John Werner write?
- John Werner typically writes checks of $3M – $8M.
- Where did John Werner go to school?
- John Werner studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Fellowship, Connection Science); Harvard University (Fellowship, Loeb Fellowship); Harvard Business School (certificate, Nonprofit Management).
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,535
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,529 more
Also attended Harvard University1,872
Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzSarah TavelVenture Partner at BenchmarkDanny RimerPartner at Index VenturesLaela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalGBill GatesCo-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation
+ 1,866 more
Also attended Hamilton College60
Matt BolanderBusiness Operations Associate at QED InvestorsDaniel GlassManaging Director, Global Market Research at Deerfield Management CompanyJohn AstoneSenior Operations Accountant at GroveStreetPhil TomkinsonFinance & Portfolio Associate at Giant Ventures Global LlpSarah SommerCo-Founder and Partner at Level EquityJosh LabonteSenior Associate at Level Equity
+ 54 more
Also attended Trinity School, NYC15
Mahesh RamakrishnanCo-founder & Managing Partner at Ev3 Ventures LlcSophia AfrickInvestor at Long Ridge Equity PartnersRob GenieserManaging Partner at ETF PartnersAlexander BernsteinManaging Partner at AMBERSTONERaphael WisniewskiAssociate at Andera PartnersOlivia DengInvestor at Banana Capital
+ 9 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Blitzy7
Sanjot MalhiPartner at NorthzoneJeff BussgangInvestor at Flybridge Capital PartnersDave BlundinManaging Partner at Link VenturesBoaz FachlerManaging Director at Link VenturesDave DeSistoInvestor at Kinetic Ventures, L.L.C.Brian ElliottExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter at Blitzy
+ 1 more
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