TLDR:
- Stefanie Thomas has been appointed as the Managing Director of Zeal Capital Partners, a venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C.
- Thomas will oversee the firm’s commitment to Inclusive Investing™ under the Barclays Black Formation Investments (BBFI) initiative.
- BBFI aims to provide early-stage capital and support to Black-led technology companies in the U.S.
- Thomas brings over a decade of venture deal-making and leadership experience to her new role.
- She was a founding member and investor at Impact America Fund (IAF) where she helped grow the company from $7M to $110M AUM.
Zeal Capital Partners, a venture capital firm based in Washington, D.C., has announced the appointment of Stefanie Thomas as its Managing Director. Thomas brings over a decade of venture deal-making and leadership experience to her new role. In her capacity as Managing Director, Thomas will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s commitment to Inclusive Investing™ under the new Barclays Black Formation Investments (BBFI) initiative.
BBFI is a pioneering pre-seed investment platform that aims to provide critical early-stage capital and support to Black-led technology companies primarily across the U.S. Backed by Barclays and managed by Zeal Capital Partners, BBFI is designed to propel the next generation of Black-led businesses.
Nasir Qadree, Founder and Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners, expressed his excitement about Thomas joining the team, stating, “We’re thrilled to welcome Stefanie to Zeal Capital Partners, to spearhead a timely effort to propel the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs and companies shaping the future of technology and business at scale.”
Thomas herself is eager to support Zeal Capital Partners’ mission to democratize access to capital. She stated, “My work and life experiences have helped me see investment opportunities beyond a traditional investing lens, and I’m looking forward to using that experience to identify founders with unique and important ideas that will unlock value for both our industry and the world.”
Prior to joining Zeal Capital Partners, Thomas was a founding member and investor at Impact America Fund (IAF), where she played a key role in growing the company from $7M to $110M in assets under management (AUM).
Overall, Thomas’s appointment as Managing Director of Zeal Capital Partners highlights the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the venture capital industry. With her expertise and experience, Thomas will contribute to the growth and success of Black-led technology startups in the U.S.
