About
Kelly Pope is a social entrepreneur and strategic advisor who concentrates on early childhood (ages 0-5) learning and their families, advising early-stage edtech startups on business models, design thinking, and technology implementation. She previously spent 25 years as a software technology executive, leading cross-functional teams building products spanning medical diagnostic software, consumer video games, and web-based educational curriculum. She holds a B.S. in electrical engineering/signal processing from U.C. Davis and was among the first women to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Invests in
EdTech
Experience
- Must! CharitiesExecutive Board Membercurrent2026 — presentTempleton, CA
- Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund - SV2Board Member/Partnercurrent2011 — presentSilicon Valley
- School for Advanced ResearchBoard Membercurrent2026 — presentSanta Fe, NM
- Future of Learning CollaborativeFounding Board Membercurrent2023 — presentCarlsbad, California, United States
- American Leadership Forum - Silicon ValleySenior Fellow, Education Innovation Networkcurrent2014 — presentSilicon Valley
- Opportunities ExchangeStrategic Advisor/Technology Consultant2021 — 2026
- New Teacher CenterBoard Member2016 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
- Growing Up New MexicoBoard Member2020 — 2023Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States
- Teen Success, Inc.Board Member2016 — 2019San Jose, CA
- SPECIALRELATIVITY EDUCATION FOUNDATIONCEO2015 — 2019Los Altos
- KQEDEducation Taskforce Member2014 — 2017San Francisco
- Citizen Schools CaliforniaChair, California Advisory Board2009 — 2015Redwood Shores, CA
- DeclaraBoard of Directors2013 — 2014Palo Alto, CA
- The Encore Fellowships NetworkCivic Ventures Encore Fellow2010 — 2011Silicon Valley
- Citizen SchoolsCitizen Teacher, Kennedy Middle School2008
- Montalvo Arts CenterBoard Member2003 — 2008
- InterscholaChief Operating Officer2003 — 2004San Francisco Bay Area
- Classroom ConnectVice President Of Technology1997 — 2001San Francisco Bay Area
- Tenth Planet Explorations, Inc.Vice President of Engineering1995 — 1997Half Moon Bay, California, United States
- Electronic ArtsDirector of Product Development1993 — 1995San Francisco Bay Area
- BorlandSoftware Manager1991 — 1992
- Sun MicrosystemsSoftware Manager - Advanced Development Grouop1985 — 1990San Francisco Bay Area
- ResonexSoftware Engineer1984 — 1985
Skills & more
Non-profit Board Leadership1Personalized Learning1Non-profit Program DevelopmentBusiness Strategy34Strategic Partnerships25Nonprofits22Blended Learning11Organizational Development12Non-profit Leadership7People Development2Fundraising12Entrepreneurship8
+12 more
Start-up ConsultingGrantsStart-upsProgram ManagementTechnology ManagementStrategic VisionProgram DevelopmentNon-profit Board DevelopmentStrategic ThinkingEducational TechnologyStrategyLeadershipFrom Kelly's professional profile.
Colleagues at Silicon Valley
Aarthi Ramaswamy
Partner Champion to Parent Voices Oakland at Silicon Valley
Aarti Chandna
SV2 Board Member at Silicon Valley
Bill Brownell
SV2 Board Treasurer at Silicon Valley
Brittny Bottorff
Partner Champion to Oasis Legal Services at Silicon Valley
Byron Hill
Partner Champion to Kit Switch at Silicon Valley
Catherine Crystal Foster
Partner Champion to Oasis Legal Services at Silicon Valley
Celeste Ford
Partner Champion to Harvest Thermal at Silicon Valley
Charity Silkebakken
Youth Development Grant Round Co-Leader; Partner Champion to MyPath at Silicon Valley
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Kelly Pope?
- Kelly Pope is a social entrepreneur and strategic advisor who concentrates on early childhood (ages 0-5) learning and their families, advising early-stage edtech startups on business models, design thinking, and technology implementation. She previously spent 25 years as a software technology executive, leading cross-functional teams building products spanning medical diagnostic software, consumer video games, and web-based educational curriculum. She holds a B.S. in electrical engineering/signal processing from U.C. Davis and was among the first women to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.
- Where does Kelly Pope work?
- Kelly Pope is SV2 Board Member at Silicon Valley.
- What does Kelly Pope invest in?
- Kelly Pope invests in EdTech.
- Where did Kelly Pope go to school?
- Kelly Pope studied at University of California, Davis (B.S. Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing); United States Air Force Academy (2nd Class of Women).
Same school
Also attended University of California, Davis194
Charles CallSLP & Venture Partner at Cottonwood Technology FundDavid PhuController at Felicis VenturesTeresa ChanChief Financial Officer at Felicis VenturesMike ZakInvestor at CRV (Charles River Ventures)Bryan EglanDirector of Business Development at Menlo VenturesScott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners
+ 188 more
Also attended United States Air Force Academy54
Patrick HenshawManaging Director at Render CapitalLeSean BrownAssociate at Context VenturesSteve SargeantSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsForrest UnderwoodVenture Partner at IronGate Capital AdvisorsIan BalserAnalyst at Tech Square VenturesLt. Gen. John ShawAdvisor at Industrious Ventures
+ 48 more
Shared employers
Also worked at KQED5
Also worked at Citizen Schools California4
Also worked at Classroom Connect1
Also worked at Electronic Arts101
David SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockTiffany SpencerHead of Marketing at Menlo VenturesRajat TanejaInvestor at Foundation CapitalRobert TomkinsonSelf at Mucker CapitalBrian OsimiriInvestor at CapitalGGustav RydstedtAdvisor, Infrastructure Software at Verissimo Ventures
+ 95 more