Emerson Collective is a venture capital and impact investing firm founded and led by Laurene Powell Jobs, based in Palo Alto, California. It combines financial support with advocacy, community outreach, and philanthropy to advance projects that expand opportunity and support human flourishing. The organization partners with entrepreneurs and innovators who pursue meaningful change, using strategic capital and collaboration to tackle challenges in areas such as education, immigration, healthcare, media, fintech and the future of work. Its mission is to champion talent and expand opportunity through rigorous thinking and collaboration.
Emerson Collective’s investment arm funds ventures across all stages, from pre-seed to growth, with typical commitments ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. The team looks for leaders who blend a sense of purpose with scalable business models. Key sectors include edtech, clean technology, life sciences, AI, financial technology, and platforms that foster economic mobility. Support goes beyond capital, with specialized expertise in energy, environment, and technology to guide portfolio companies as they address market expansion and regulatory complexities.
A cornerstone of Emerson Collective’s climate strategy is Emerson Elemental, an initiative dedicated to environmental and clean energy solutions. The organization takes part in climate and clean economy summits alongside partners such as Elemental Excelerator and Climate Power. Notable investments include Noon Energy, which develops a long-duration storage battery using carbon-based materials and abundant CO2, and participation in a $700 million funding round for X-energy’s small modular nuclear reactors. These investments reflect a commitment to storage and generation technologies that support a more reliable, sustainable power grid.
