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John Werner

Investor

Managing Director and Partner at Link Ventures · Managing Director at Vestigo Ventures

Brookline, MA

Writes $3M – $8M checks · typically $4M

Find your path to John

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

Dave BlundinunlockedJohn: together at Cogo Labs (2018–2020)
John: together at sublime
×3John: together at Citizen Schools
×6John: together at Vestigo Ventures

About

Managing Director and Partner at Link Ventures investing in AI, an MIT Senior Fellow, 5x founder, and Forbes AI columnist. He founded Imagination in Action and organizes TEDxMIT and TEDxBoston events, and is a graduate of Hamilton College.

Contact· published on John's own website

Beyond investing

Founded
Is a five-time founder. Founded and serves as CEO of Ideas in Action, a nonprofit that produces Imagination in Action.
Communities
Leads TEDxMIT, which was recognized as best event at MIT in the 2022 and 2023 academic years. Leads TEDxBoston (formerly known as TEDxBeaconStreet). Produces Imagination in Action events during the World Economic Forum in Davos and at MIT.
More
Is an MIT Senior Fellow. Writes an AI column for Forbes.

From John's own website — common ground for a warm intro.

Experience

  1. Link VenturesManaging Director and Partnercurrent2018 — presentCambridge Ma
  2. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyVisiting Lecturercurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  3. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySpecial Assistant, MIT History Course STS.050current2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  4. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySenior Fellow, MIT Connection Sciencecurrent2018 — presentCambridge, MA
  5. ForbesContributing AI Columnistcurrent2023 — present
  6. MIT Connection ScienceChief Innovation Officercurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  7. Liquid AIAdvisorcurrent2023 — presentBoston & SF
  8. MercorInvestorcurrent2023 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  9. BlitzyInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  10. OrnnInvestorcurrent2025 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  11. DonoInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  12. AaruInvestorcurrent2024 — present
  13. KintsugiInvestorcurrent2024 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  14. SundaiMember of the Board of Advisorscurrent2026 — presentCambridge, Massachusetts, United States
  15. Sublime SystemsAdvisorcurrent2024 — presentSomerville, Massachusetts, United States
  16. ideas in actionFounder, Curator & CEOcurrent2009 — presentBoston Area
  17. John Werner PhotographyCreator / Photogrphercurrent2010 — present
  18. VerijetStrategic Advisorcurrent2021 — presentFlorida, United States
  19. Bloomer TechStrategic Advisorcurrent2022 — present
  20. EverQuote ProAdvisory Board Membercurrent2019 — presentCambridge MA
  21. BRELYONStrategic Advisorcurrent2020 — present
  22. http://imaginationinaction.coFounder and CEOcurrent2018 — presentMIT & Davos Switerland
  23. AR in ACTIONFounder and CEOcurrent2016 — presentBoston
  24. Vestigo VenturesAdvisory Board Membercurrent2016 — presentCambridge Ma
  25. Imaging CafeCo-Leadercurrent2013 — presentMIT Media Lab
  26. Werner FamilyDad, Husband, Son, Brother, dog parentcurrent1970 — present
  27. Cogo LabsChief Network Officer2018 — 2020Cambridge MA
  28. Cogo LabsExecutive In Residence2018Cambridge Ma
  29. Meta Co.Vice President, Strategic Partnerships2016 — 2018Redwood City & Boston
  30. MIT Media LabFounding Managing Director of Emerging Worlds SIG2014 — 2016Cambridge Ma
  31. MIT Media LabProject Innovator of The Camera Culture Group2013 — 2016Cambridge MA
  32. MIT Media LabHead of Innovation & New Ventures, Camera Culture Group2013 — 2016Cambridge, Ma
  33. Citizen SchoolsFounding Team Member, Member of Leadership Team1995 — 2013
  34. Citizen SchoolsChief Mobilizing Officer & Managing Director1995 — 2013
  35. Citizen SchoolsBoston Executive Director2005 — 2008
  36. Citizen SchoolsFounder and Executive Director, 8th Grade Academy2001 — 2004
  37. Citizen SchoolsMember of Start-up Team1995 — 2000Greater Boston
  38. TEDxBoston.orgExecutive Curator2010 — 2012
  39. Harvard UniversityLoeb Fellow2008 — 2009
  40. Boston Public SchoolsTeacher1992 — 1996

Skills & more

Fundraising99Non-profits99Program Development99Community Outreach81Teaching54Social Media96Grant Writing25Volunteer Management32Program Management86Youth Development20Social Entrepreneurship47Coaching24
+12 moreMarketingSocial NetworkingEntrepreneurshipNonprofitsRecruitingLeadership DevelopmentStart-upsSocial Media MarketingPublic SpeakingLeadershipStrategyStrategic Planning

From John's professional profile.

Investments

Investor

Tailbox

Per curated public sources.

Colleagues at Link Ventures

Alexander D. Wissner-Gross
Investor at Link Ventures
Bill McCarran
COO at Vestigo Ventures
Boaz Fachler
Managing Director at Link Ventures
Cindy Blanco
Chief Financial Officer at Link Ventures
Cynthia Blanco
CFO at Link Ventures
Dan Oliveri
Chief of Staff at Link Ventures
Dave Blundin
Managing Partner at Link Ventures
Dominic Lloyd
Managing Director at Link Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is John Werner?
Managing Director and Partner at Link Ventures investing in AI, an MIT Senior Fellow, 5x founder, and Forbes AI columnist. He founded Imagination in Action and organizes TEDxMIT and TEDxBoston events, and is a graduate of Hamilton College.
Where does John Werner work?
John Werner is Managing Director and Partner at Link Ventures.
What check size does John Werner write?
John Werner typically writes checks of $3M – $8M.
What companies has John Werner invested in?
Investments tracked here include Tailbox.
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

Shared employers