JFFVentures

Career transitions are challenging, especially for low- and middle-wage workers. That's why we're excited about JFFVentures portfolio company AdeptID joining forces with SkillUp Coalition to launch SkillUp AI, which will leverage AdeptID's advanced skills-matching technology to make career navigation more accessible and effective. By identifying hidden skill alignments and potential career pathways, SkillUp AI aims to transform how people explore career opportunities. This collaboration addresses a critical gap in the labor market: connecting talented workers to meaningful career advancement without traditional credentials standing in the way. The vision is clear—reduced search fatigue, increased confidence, and accelerated economic mobility through AI-powered recommendations that recognize skills, regardless of how they were acquired. Big congratulations to AdeptID, SkillUp Coalition, Brighthive, WhereWeGo on this launch! ?? Read more about SkillUp AI here: https://lnkd.in/grGnqGpP #CareerMobility #WorkforceDevelopment #AI #SkillsBasedHiring #FutureOfWork #CareerTransitions #WorkforceInnovation

Thanks to Tess Danielson at Beta Boom for featuring this story about JFFVentures Managing Partner Sabari Raja. From being raised on a coconut farm to founding and successfully exiting an edtech startup, her unique journey offers valuable insights into the experiences that shape her perspective as an investor with JFFVentures. In particular, Sabari emphasizes the value of vulnerability: "I admire and appreciate that more—a level of transparency, honesty, and humility—rather than somebody who’s always putting on a show. The number-one thing I would tell founders: self-awareness, vulnerability, asking for help." Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gsXqzWTK

?? Curious how AI can transform adult literacy education? Join our partners World Education and Pace AI for an insightful webinar highlighting real results and practical strategies from the Pace AI pilot program at Houston's Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy. See how AI-powered tools are helping multilingual learners build confidence and succeed. From pronunciation feedback to integrated digital learning frameworks, discover approaches you can implement in your classroom. Register now ?? worlded.me/ETSS2024 #AdultEducation #EdTech #AI #DigitalLearning

Applications for Jobs for the Future (JFF)'s annual pitch competition open February 10! Are you an early-stage founder building an innovative solution that drives?economic advancement?and empowers?individuals and communities?to thrive? Consider applying to compete for a?$5,000 cash prize?and the opportunity to be considered for the?JFFLabs?Impact Accelerator.

We're excited to welcome new members to the JFFVentures Corporate Innovation Council! The Council is an innovative model that brings together leaders from Jobs for the Future (JFF)'s corporate network to support the growth and impact of JFFV portfolio companies. Our council brings together visionary leaders in talent development, DEI&B, venture capital, and corporate social responsibility who share their expertise to help promising workforce innovations better navigate and scale with large employers, driving equity and opportunity for low and middle wage workers. Together with the existing council, our new members will support entrepreneurs as they scale high-impact solutions that increase access economic opportunity for all. Please join us in welcoming Jocelyn Caldwell of Pilot Company, Lisa (Hunt) Schumacher of McDonald's, Mari Sifo, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP of Host Hotels & Resorts, Anshul Sonak of Intel Corporation, Kathryn Tague of Northwestern Mutual, and Tammy Thieman of Amazon to the JFFVentures Corporate Innovation Council! ?? #WorkforceDevelopment #SocialImpact #Innovation

Proud to share that our portfolio company Sparkwise has partnered with Harvard Business Review to launch their virtual AI training program: "Generative AI Skills: Craft Smart Prompts." This collaboration brings together HBR's expertise in business education with Sparkwise's innovative learning platform to help teams master AI tools effectively. Congratulations to the Sparkwise team on this significant milestone! ?? #GenerativeAI #EdTech #VentureCapital Vince Jeong

JFFVentures is on a mission to invest in solutions that help drive economic mobility for all. We recently welcomed Besolo into our portfolio, a platform focused?on?transforming self-employment by streamlining complex tasks like benefits, tax filings, payroll, and compliance. With 41 million Americans running one-person businesses, JFFVentures is focused on supporting innovative solutions that make self-employment more accessible. By tackling common challenges for this population of workers, Besolo enables solopreneurs to focus on growing their businesses and thriving in today’s economy. Read more about Besolo here: https://lnkd.in/gECz_Bj9 Mark Jackson Jeff Taggart Yigal Kerszenbaum Sabari Raja Monica Pacheco Priscilla Luu Abby Conyers #ImpactInvesting #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship

We're excited to share about an innovative partnership addressing career equity gaps for HBCU students! The Thurgood Marshall College Fund's collaboration with Territorium is bringing AI-powered career development tools directly to students through the Life Journey app. Early results are promising—100% of student users report seeing the app's value for their career journey, regardless of their year in college. By combining personalized assessments, digital badging, and AI-driven career matching, this partnership is helping address historical disparities in post-graduation outcomes. Territorium offers an innovative, tech-enabled solution connecting students with career opportunities, an important step toward reaching the Jobs for the Future (JFF) North Star goal of 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs by 2033. Read more about the partnership in Inside Higher Ed: https://lnkd.in/eu9nsJvN Are you building tech-enabled solutions to connect workers and learners to quality jobs? We'd love to connect with you. #HigherEd #CareerDevelopment #HBCU #EquityInEducation #WorkforceDevelopment

Manny S. was invited to the The White House and to speak at the U.S. Department of Education on how EdVisorly is driving innovation and impact for institutions and students nationwide as well as his journey as a founder.?? President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted an intimate event, providing unique insight on the administration’s progress in expanding the U.S. Classroom to Career initiatives. ???? Among the many exceptional attendees, Manny connected with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo and Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future (JFF)! ?? #EdVisorly #WhiteHouse #USDepartmentofEducation #JFF #UnlockingCareerSuccess #RaisetheBar #AI

Yesterday, three JFFVentures portfolio companies were at the White House for the Classroom to Career Pathways Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, speaking about their journeys as entrepreneurs and the importance of growing tomorrow's entrepreneurs from today's students. Thank you all for your important work building a more inclusive system of higher education that promotes equity, upward mobility, and opportunity. Andrew Bikash Ben Grossman Jessica Hutcheson Manny S. Kanu ChargerHelp EdVisorly Jobs for the Future (JFF)