55%
run by women & people of color
At °®Éñ´«Ã½, we invest primarily in innovative, high-growth Seed companies and some later-stage entities. Our portfolio contains a diverse group of innovative tech enabled products and solutions, with a focus on companies that aspire to the concept of ‘Innovation + Intention.’ Specific areas of focus include the future of mobility, education technology, health technology, and environmental solutions, amongst other areas.
With over 20 years of experience, our goal is to help high-capacity entrepreneurs elevate their ideas into successful, sustainable businesses. With an emphasis on the vision that financial success can be aligned with principles that promote the belief that all businesses can change the world – we work with companies and entrepreneurs to align their values, their life and their work.
55% of our investments are in companies run by women and/or people of color. And they’re some of the most successful start-ups in our portfolio.
46% of the companies in our total portfolio are led by women. That compares to an industry standard of 2.3% of VC funding going to women in 2020.
We’re invested across multiple industries, including education, health care, & mobility.
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At °®Éñ´«Ã½, we’re looking for high-capacity founders that have businesses with large opportunities for success. We have a deep understanding of, and experience in, investing in transformative industries, and only invest in companies that share our commitment to the following.
Consultation, action and reflection are three areas that we consider to be of paramount importance. Together, this enables a deep engagement between us and our portfolio companies. We commit to the journey alongside you for the long-term. We’re not only interested in the outcomes. We are committed to learning beside you.
We are committed to the betterment of the world. We do not build companies that only exist to maximize shareholder value. Instead, we work with founders who are committed to creating a positive impact in the world and creating a tangible positive impact in the lives of others.
Our goal as investors is to build an economy that is more equitable, inclusive and just. We fundamentally believe that wealth is commendable if it is earned while treating employees, partners, vendors, communities and the environment with love and respect. There must be an orientation and focus around how we accumulate wealth and how it can be contributed toward the greater good.
When you work with °®Éñ´«Ã½, you get more than just a check. You also get access to the wealth of knowledge within our owned and operated business. We have a full service design studio, marketing and communications specialists, and a world class SEM team as part of °®Éñ´«Ã½ Studios. We’re not just investors, we’re entrepreneurs and operators. We’re not an accelerator. We build businesses for long-term success.
Payam Zamani is the founder of °®Éñ´«Ã½.
Founded in 2015, °®Éñ´«Ã½ is a closely held private equity firm that owns a suite of online technology and media businesses and also invests in early-stage companies. Infused with Zamani’s deeply held beliefs from the Baha’i Faith, °®Éñ´«Ã½â€™s mission is to support strong business ideas while also building an ethos that helps improve society and gives back to communities.Â
Owned and operated businesses of °®Éñ´«Ã½ span a variety of industries including ad tech, publishing, and media. Key companies include , , , , and °®Éñ´«Ã½ Studios. °®Éñ´«Ã½ also runs and °®Éñ´«Ã½, One People as part of its foundation arm.
Zamani was born in Tehran, Iran but was forced to flee at the age of sixteen due to his religious beliefs. Ultimately arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area, Zamani graduated from UC Davis in 1994.Â
In 2020, °®Éñ´«Ã½ was named a ‘Best Place to Work’ by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and also received the Better Business Bureau’s Torch for Ethics Award. Zamani was also honored as a ‘Best CEO for Diversity’ in 2020 by Comparably, was granted the Tahirih Justice Center’s ‘Hope Award’ (2016), and is a recipient of the University of California, Davis Award of Distinction (2018).
Today, Zamani splits his time between California, Nevada, and New York, along with his wife, Gouya. Together the couple has two daughters.
Jenna is the Managing Director of °®Éñ´«Ã½ VC and Head of Corporate Development at °®Éñ´«Ã½. As part of her role, Jenna manages the development of a fund structure to invest in seed and Series A companies. She also leads merger & acquisition efforts as Buyerlink grows its tech platform, both organically and through targeted acquisitions.
Prior to joining °®Éñ´«Ã½, Jenna founded Phoenix Global Impact, a firm that specializes in impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and strategic philanthropy. She also worked with the World Bank Treasury on the development of green bonds. Jenna earned her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, is a P.D Soros Fellow for New Americans, a recipient of the Stanford Social Innovation Fellowship, an Echoing Green Fellow, a Summit Fellow, and was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Social Entrepreneurship.
Outside of work, Jenna serves as the CEO of Impact Experience which facilitates deep relationships between investors, philanthropists, innovators, and leaders of underestimated communities. She also acts as an advisor to several community development organizations and youth investment projects.
Andre is the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations for °®Éñ´«Ã½.
For over 20 years, Andre has worked with CEO's, executives and boards, from startups to Fortune 100s, working to identity initiatives and discover new sources of value. Prior to joining the °®Éñ´«Ã½, he was a Director of Strategy at Accenture, where he also served as lead of North America Operations for Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.
Andre is a merit scholar and holds an MBA in Strategy and Finance from the University of Rochester. He has executive training in sustainability from Oxford and executive certification in inclusive leadership from UCLA.
Beyond his leadership roles, Andre is a community activist with a passion for racial equity. He sits on the board of Chicago-based nonprofit, Organic Oneness, and is a Mayoral Advisor on DEI initiatives for the City of Walnut Creek.
Capital should serve humanity. By considering the impact of our work, we have the opportunity to add a layer of meaning to our professional lives.
