Zach Bratun-Glennon
InvestorGeneral Partner at Gradient Ventures · Board director at Clarify AI · Board director at Plannuh · Board director at Lambda, Inc./DE
San Francisco
Writes $100K – $10M checks
About
Zach Bratun-Glennon is an early-stage investor at Gradient who has led investments in more than 35 companies and held over 25 board seats. He focuses on AI/ML and data science, vertical software, B2B marketplaces, and fintech. Before Gradient, he ran acquisitions and strategic investments at Google Cloud, and earlier worked as an investment banker advising software companies after beginning his career as a quant and data engineer at a hedge fund. He writes analytical pieces on the AI model landscape, including a widely referenced argument that the gap between open and closed AI models is driven by proprietary expert training data.
Contact· published on Zach's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsFintechSaaS
Beyond investing
- Education
- Earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics from the University of Virginia. Holds a JD from the UCLA School of Law. Holds an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
- Hobbies
- Enjoys snowboarding and mountain biking in the mountains.
- Family
- Lives in San Francisco with his wife and two kids.
- More
- Began his career as a quant and data engineer at a hedge fund. Worked as an investment banker advising software companies before joining Google.
From Zach's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Clarify AI
Intro paths
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In turn, Zach can intro founders to Clarify AI's investors below.
Clarify AI's investors · 7
Essence Venture CapitalSeattle · $10K – $10M checksFikaCulver City · $1M – $10M checksGradient VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $10M checks · since 2025Insight PartnersNew York · $120M – $350M checksInvariantes FundGuatemala CityMadrona Venture GroupSeattle · $2M – $10M checksUS Venture PartnersMenlo Park · $500K – $10M checks
Co-founders at Clarify AI
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Patrick ThompsonCo-Founder / CEO
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Ondrej HrebicekCo-Founder / CTO
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Austin HayExecutive Officer, Director
Board director at Plannuh
Intro paths
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In turn, Zach can intro founders to Plannuh's investors below.
Plannuh's investors · 3
Co-founders at Plannuh
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Peter MahoneyExecutive Officer, Director
Board director at Lambda, Inc./DE
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In turn, Zach can intro founders to Lambda, Inc./DE's investors below.
Experience
- GradientGeneral Partnercurrent2017 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- LambdaBoard Membercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- OpenlyBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- ClarifyBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- FilereadBoard Membercurrent2023 — present
- OutgoBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentSeattle, Washington, United States
- ELSA, CorpBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Wise Systems, Inc.Board Membercurrent2018 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- Syrup TechBoard Member2022 — 2025New York, New York, United States
- CentMLBoard Member2023 — 2025Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- GoogleCorporate Development2015 — 2017
- Deutsche BankAssociate2012 — 2015
- DC EnergySenior Quantitative Analyst2006 — 2008
Skills & more
PHP5MySQL6C++5Matlab3HTML5XML3Java3Financial Modeling30Capital Markets19Financial Analysis22Private Equity21Due Diligence23
+12 more
ValuationBloombergInvestment BankingCorporate FinanceDCFHedge FundsLBOMergers & AcquisitionsCapital IQEquity ResearchVenture CapitalEquitiesLanguages Spanish
From Zach's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Lambda, Inc./DEBoard seat
via Gradient Ventures · filed Feb 2024 · $320M raise
Wise SystemsBoard seat
via Gradient Ventures · filed Oct 2021 · $50M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
PlannuhYoung Alfred
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Gradient Ventures
Anabela Tavares
Management Accountant at EMV Capital
Andrew Brackin
Partner at Gradient investing across vertical AI, healthcare, and the application layer
Clayton Petty
Partner at Gradient investing across every layer of AI
Darian Shirazi
Investor, entrepreneur, and Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Denise Teng
Partner at Gradient Ventures
Devon Buford
Operations Manager at Gradient Ventures
Donald Harrison
Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Erin Drooks
Head of Talent at Gradient Ventures
Network13
Allen MillerScout
Partner at Oak HC/FT
Andrew BrackinScout
Partner at Gradient investing across vertical AI, healthcare, and the application layer
Anna PalmerScout
Venture Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners
Anna PattersonScout
Founder and Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Brian MatthewsScout
Cofounder & General Partner at Cultivation Capital
Clayton PettyScout
Partner at Gradient investing across every layer of AI
Dalton WrightScout
General Partner at Kickstart Fund
Dan AhrensScout
Managing Partner at Left Lane Capital
Darian ShiraziScout
Investor, entrepreneur, and Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Diana MelencioScout
General Partner, Brand Capital Fund at XRC
Donald HarrisonScout
Managing Partner at Gradient Ventures
Emerson KirkScout
Principal at Gradient Ventures
â–¶1 more connections
Investors connected to Zach in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Zach Bratun-Glennon?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon is an early-stage investor at Gradient who has led investments in more than 35 companies and held over 25 board seats. He focuses on AI/ML and data science, vertical software, B2B marketplaces, and fintech. Before Gradient, he ran acquisitions and strategic investments at Google Cloud, and earlier worked as an investment banker advising software companies after beginning his career as a quant and data engineer at a hedge fund. He writes analytical pieces on the AI model landscape, including a widely referenced argument that the gap between open and closed AI models is driven by proprietary expert training data.
- Where does Zach Bratun-Glennon work?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon is General Partner at Gradient Ventures and Board director at Clarify AI and Board director at Plannuh and Board director at Lambda, Inc./DE.
- What does Zach Bratun-Glennon invest in?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon invests in AI & Machine Learning, B2B Marketplaces, Data & Infrastructure, Developer Tools, Fintech, SaaS.
- What check size does Zach Bratun-Glennon write?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What boards does Zach Bratun-Glennon sit on?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon holds tracked board seats at Lambda, Inc./DE, Plannuh, Wise Systems, Young Alfred.
- Where did Zach Bratun-Glennon go to school?
- Zach Bratun-Glennon studied at UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA, Finance); University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law (JD, Business Law); University of Virginia (B.S., Computer Science & Applied Math).
Same school
Also attended UCLA Anderson School of Management223
David Clark GuillermoInvestments at Impact America FundDana MoralyPartner; Chief Financial & Administrative Officer at March Capital PartnersJed LeidheiserPartner at March Capital PartnersShahin FarshchiPartner at Lux CapitalJennifer SavagePartner at Illuminate VenturesAlbert WangSenior Director at Qualcomm Ventures
+ 217 more
Also attended University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law29
Az VirjiGeneral Counsel at Marlin Equity PartnersJason DorenGeneral Counsel at ARCH Venture PartnersSharon StevensonCo-Founder, Managing Director, Venture Partner at Okapi Venture CapitalMatthew StepkaManaging Partner at Machina VenturesDana PollickGeneral Counsel at K5 GlobalMai AlashgarChief Legal Officer at SVC
+ 23 more
Also attended University of Virginia409
Alexis OhanianFounder & General Partner of Seven Seven SixAndy FligelSenior Managing Director at Intel CapitalKandace ElamVice President of GTM Talent at Menlo VenturesTrevor KienzleInvestor at Correlation VenturesFrank RotmanCo-Founder and Partner Emeritus at QED InvestorsMegan LightcapPartner, Creator Fund at Slow Ventures
+ 403 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Lambda12
Spencer FoustManaging Director at Sozo VenturesJosh ChristensenDirector at Mercato PartnersZane BusteedPrincipal at Juvo VenturesPeter BordesManaging Partner at Trajectory VenturesTom SmithManaging Partner at Savano Capital PartnersAndrew YeoInvestment Team at OIF Ventures
+ 6 more
Also worked at Openly3
Also worked at Wise Systems, Inc.3
Also worked at Google1,715
Ron ConwayFounder of SV AngelElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIBrian SingermanCo-founder of GPx; Partner Emeritus at Founders FundJess LeePartner and Chief Product Officer at Sequoia CapitalTomasz TunguzFounder & General Partner at Theory Ventures
+ 1,709 more