JE

Justin Ernest

Principal at Playground Global

San Francisco, California

Invests in

Stages:

  • Min Investment:

    $1,000,000.00
  • Max Investment:

    $20,000,000.00
  • Target Investment:

    $10,000,000.00

Education

Work Experience

  • Principal

    2024

  • Venture Investor

    2019 - 2024

    Playground is an early stage venture capital firm with $1.2 billion under management and currently investing out of its third fund. Our mission is to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of category-defining technology companies. We seek to invest in innovative companies whose cutting-edge products will underpin the next wave of economic and human development. Areas of active investment include artificial intelligence, robotics, quantum computing, life sciences, aerospace, cybersecurity, decarbonization, and other frontier technology. Playground has also assembled a world-class team of domain experts within engineering, design, machine learning, and startup operations, all of whom operate out of our fully-equipped, 80k square foot studio where the firm also hosts a number of its portfolio companies.

2023

  • Board Observer

    2023

  • Board Observer

    2022

  • Board Observer

    2021

2021

  • Board Observer

    2021

  • Board Observer

    2020

  • Board Observer

    2020

2020

  • Board Observer

    2020

  • Founding Venture Partner

    2016

    NextGen is a network-driven venture firm that partners with exceptional entrepreneurs. We invest in category defining early-stage tech companies such as Hyperloop One, Penrose Studios, and Carta. Our network of young startup investors are leaders in the entrepreneurial community who use their collective skills and connections to support the growth of our portfolio companies. NextGen has operations across the US, with the goal of becoming one of the most active and connected investors in the world. My role as an active venture partner is to provide support via sourcing, deal evaluation, and portfolio advisory.

  • MBA Extern

    2019 - 2019

    Consumer technology investing