Fundraising Fox

Shawn Dennis

InvestorFounder

Venture Partner at Listen Ventures · Board director at Slumberkins

Madison, Wisconsin

Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M

FoundedSlumberkins

About

Shawn Dennis is a Venture Partner at Listen Ventures and an advisor to multiple venture capital firms including American Heart Association Ventures and the Women's VC Fund. He serves as a board member for consumer products and content companies, and teaches board governance to MBA students at the University of Wisconsin. Dennis has held executive positions including President and Chief Marketing Officer at companies including DreamWorks Animation, Mattel's American Girl, Dell Computers, the NFL, MasterCard, and Universal Studios over a 30+ year career.

Board director at Slumberkins

Intro paths

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In turn, Shawn can intro founders to Slumberkins's investors below.

Slumberkins's investors · 7

Cascade Seed FundBendDns CapitalChicago · $25M – $100M checksInterplay Ventures Early Stage Management LlcNew York · $1M checksListen VenturesChicago · $1M – $10M checks · since 2024Long Way VenturesBendRogue Womens Fund$500K checksSeaChange$250K – $1M checks

Co-founders at Slumberkins

CC
Callie ChristensenChief Brand Officer
KO
Kelly OriardChief Therapeutic Officer
SK
Suzanne KolbChief Executive Officer
MS
Mark SchneiderChief Financial Officer

Experience

  1. Listen VenturesVenture Partnercurrent2020 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  2. WomensVCFund IIVenture Partnercurrent2020 — presentPortland, Oregon Metropolitan Area
  3. Wisconsin School of BusinessAdjunct Professorcurrent2020 — present
  4. Wisconsin School of BusinessAdjunct Professorcurrent2020 — presentMadison, Wisconsin, United States
  5. Wisconsin School of BusinessBoard Membercurrent2009 — presentMadison, Wisconsin Area
  6. SlumberkinsFounding Board Membercurrent2019 — presentVancouver, Washington
  7. Gaud-Hammer Gaming GroupFounding Board Membercurrent2019 — presentNew Jersey, United States
  8. American Heart AssociationNational Board Member, Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committeecurrent2018 — presentDallas/Fort Worth Area
  9. Esports IllustratedBoard Membercurrent2018 — presentAtlantic City, New Jersey
  10. GoldieBlox, Inc.Board Member2016 — 2020Greater Los Angeles Area
  11. GoldieBlox, Inc.President2018 — 2019Greater Los Angeles Area
  12. Highlights for ChildrenBoard Member2017 — 2019
  13. DreamWorks AnimationEVP / Head of Brand and Franchise Development / Senior Strategic Business Leader2012 — 2017Glendale
  14. American GirlCMO, SVP Marketing - Managing all Marketing, Product Development & Publishing2008 — 2012Madison, Wisconsin Area
  15. DellVice President Global Marketing2005 — 2007Round Rock, Texas
  16. National Football LeagueVice President and CMO, Marketing2003 — 2005Greater New York City Area
  17. MasterCardVice President, Global Co-Brand Partnerships1997 — 2003purchase, NY
  18. Universal Studios HollywoodVice President Corporate Alliances1989 — 1998Universal City, California

Education

  1. UCLABachelor's degree, Communication and Media Studies

Skills & more

Integrated Marketing24Marketing Strategy37Segmentation12Direct Marketing10Marketing Research3Advertising13Social Media Marketing6Competitive Analysis3Marketing46Creative Direction9Customer Insight5Market Research3
+12 moreEntertainmentProduct DevelopmentBusiness StrategyBrand ManagementMarketing CommunicationsDigital MarketingProduct MarketingMarketing ManagementStrategic PlanningStrategyDigital StrategyOnline Advertising

From Shawn's professional profile.

Colleagues at Listen Ventures

Brentos Fernandez
Partner, Head of Creative at Listen Ventures
Jeff Cantalupo
Managing Partner, Founder at Listen Ventures
Johnnie Yu
Associate at Listen Ventures
Kimmie Carey
Principal at Listen Ventures
Kofi Amoo-Gottfried
Venture Partner at Listen Ventures
Mike Apostal
Venture Partner at Listen Ventures
Rick Desai
Managing Partner, Investments at Listen Ventures

Network2

Amira Khatib
Vice President at Bluestein Ventures
Brentos Fernandez
Partner, Head of Creative at Listen Ventures

Investors connected to Shawn in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Shawn Dennis work?
Shawn Dennis is Venture Partner at Listen Ventures and Founder at Slumberkins.
What check size does Shawn Dennis write?
Shawn Dennis typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
What companies did Shawn Dennis found?
Shawn Dennis founded Slumberkins.

Same school

Also attended UCLA471

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesPaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General CatalystMelody MaExecutive Assistant and Lead Receptionist at Trinity VenturesGizem CakilInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners

+ 465 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Wisconsin School of Business7

Eugene YangFund Operations Director at Keyhorse CapitalChristian KaczmarczykPrincipal at Third PrimeTom CarmonaManaging Director at Symphony Alpha VenturesJenna ScheffertInvestment Associate at InvestBevPeter CommonsPartner at Mercury FundAnthony AbrahamSr. Director of Googler and Candidate Operations (People Experience & Excellence) at Black Angel Group

+ 1 more

Also worked at American Heart Association9

Lisa SuennenVenture Partner at PROOFNoelle HutchinsSenior Associate at Omega FundsTodd BrintonVenture Partner at Sonder CapitalFatima Cody StanfordVenture Advisor at Pier 70 VenturesTej DhawanSenior Advisor at Next Level VenturesMiranda FornaroOperations Manager at EcoR1 Capital

+ 3 more

Also worked at Dell157

Jim BreyerFounder & CEO of Breyer CapitalBill RichterCEO of Qumulo and venture partner at MadronaSujal PatelStrategic Director at Madrona Venture GroupAtli ThorkelssonVP of Network at Redpoint VenturesGil GorenPartner at 83NorthMichael KlaykoOperating Executive at Marlin Equity Partners

+ 151 more