The Team.
Our team is made-up of former teachers, entrepreneurs and product managers. We are a team of doers who prefer action over 5-year strategic plans. We believe we can help the most at the earliest stages of a company’s growth, and we’ve supported over 50 early-stage companies so far.
Jennifer Carolan
Partner
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.”
– Mother Teresa
Jennifer grew up in Chicago and its suburbs. She had the transformative experience of attending two different high schools- one in the city and one in the suburbs. That experience set her on a path to understand our education system and why it has great inequalities. Jennifer taught in traditional public schools for 7 years, pursued an MA in Education from Stanford, then went on to learn the craft of venture capital for almost a decade before co-founding Reach Capital. Although she never intentionally went after a career in venture capital, she found it to be a powerful lever to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of opportunity, especially for those without a voice.
Little Known Facts
- Taught a math camp for 5 years, out of her home
- One of 6 kids, 5 are girls
- Scuba diver
- Loves board games and old typewriters
Why Education?
Learning allowed me to step outside of my life and consider new ways of thinking. It helped me understand and develop empathy for others, their lives and their hardships. Education is such a powerful tool to develop ourselves as human beings and to support one another in community. John Dewey said, classrooms are a microcosm of our ideal society and I love this challenge to create small communities that prioritize and reflect what is best in our human nature.
Shauntel Garvey
Partner
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
From a young age, Shauntel understood the transformative power of education. From her time at MIT learning chemical engineering to completing her MA in Education at Stanford, she’s navigated life with a curious mind and an insatiable appetite for knowledge. Her love of learning has opened many interesting doors but her current role at Reach Capital is her most rewarding yet. Outside of work, she is an avid hiker and enjoys exploring the newest restaurants in Oakland.
Little Known Facts
- Has lived in Southeast Asia
- Knows how to make laundry detergent
- Work extrovert and a social introvert
- Loves taking hip-hop dance classes
Why Education?
My mother was a professor and taught me education is vital to not only exploring my own intellectual curiosity and potential but an important lever for greater social mobility.
Wayee Chu
Partner
“I had no idea that history was being made, I was just tired of giving up.”
– Rosa Parks
Wayee was born in Queens, New York and raised in Connecticut by Chinese parents who immigrated to the US for the sole purpose of getting an education; this upbringing no doubt influenced and shaped her understanding of the importance of education and ultimately led to a career path and commitment in bringing greater access and opportunity to all learners. Wayee’s first experience with entrepreneurs was when she moved to California in 2005 to work at NewSchools Venture Fund, alongside her colleagues Jennifer Carolan and Shauntel Garvey. Her foundational experience supporting some of the most inspiring and innovative education entrepreneurs led her to join the team at Reach Capital where she continues her passion in supporting early stage founders who are building companies that look to transform the way we learn and live.
Little Known Facts
- Failed at piano and never looked back
- Loves vizslas (all dogs, but particularly vizslas)
- Fanatical about Contemporary art
- An only child (but you would never know it;-)
Why Education?
My public school experience in the suburbs of Connecticut made a huge impact on my life and there is no doubt that my zip code was an indicator of my own educational and career opportunities and outcomes. My work at Reach Capital is driven by the idea that one’s zip code should not determine one’s learning trajectory. And while there are many approaches in which we can improve education in this country, I fundamentally believe that entrepreneurship is one of the most impactful and important agents of change.
Esteban Sosnik
Partner
“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
– Albert Einstein
After 12 years as an entrepreneur in the gaming industry, and inspired by the opportunities technology can afford to superpower humanity, Esteban joined Reach from its founding in 2015 to support education entrepreneurs and help them build iconic global businesses that augment human potential. Learning and growing has always been Esteban’s life motivator that brought him from Buenos Aires to the University of Virginia and from studying Foreign Affairs and Economics to becoming an entrepreneur and investor. He loves supporting companies and entrepreneurs whose mission is to enable learning for others.
Little Known Facts
- As a teenager wanted to be the general counsel of the UN
- Learnt Basic at age 10 (with a Commodore 128)
- Learnt piano at age 40
- First traveled when 11 months old and never stopped.
Why Education?
I attended both public and private schools in Argentina and the US and they all truly impacted who I am. I am convinced that education is the biggest lever for change we have as humans and, at a time with such enormous challenges and opportunities, I can see no other sector in the world to invest on that could be more significant for our civilization.
Chian Gong
Partner
“Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not.”
– Leila Janah
Chian did not set out to build a career in education. She studied bioengineering at Berkeley and worked in management consulting upon graduation. Three years in, she quit consulting and took a chance on a fellowship through Education Pioneers. This fellowship, which placed her on the data & technology team at an Oakland-based charter school network, opened her eyes to the potential of young minds and the remarkable dedication that each teacher had for their students. From that point on, she knew she wanted to dedicate her career to education. She has since worked in education consulting and impact investing and is excited to now be working alongside a team of educators and entrepreneurs at Reach
Little Known Facts
- Hates cucumbers, but likes pickles and even cucumber water
- Was hit by a truck (and survived!)
- Once went 6 days without a shower (climbing Kilimanjaro)
- Addicted to crosswords
- Married to an edtech founder
Why Education?
I believe education is a human right and is key to unlocking opportunity for the next generation. When we unlock opportunity for one student, it creates ripple effects for his/her family, community, and society at large. What contributions might that one student hold for the future?
James Kim
Principal
“Walk as if the next step would carry you across the threshold of heaven.”
– Jim Elliot
The son of a cop and a stay-at-home mom, James was fortunate to attend high-achieving magnet programs within the Los Angeles public school system and has personally experienced the transformative impact of quality education. His upbringing shaped him into an unapologetic nerd who studied astrophysics in college before pivoting to the education sector as a teacher, non-profit executive, and admissions officer. After a stint in graduate school, he now has the privilege of supporting incredible entrepreneurs who share his passion for education.
Little Known Facts
- Competitive shotgun shooter
- Collects stuffed animals
- Speaks Korean, Chinese, and Spanish
- Eats all vegetables except celery
- Obsessed with escape rooms
Why Education?
High-quality education helped me pursue my interests and recognize and achieve my full potential. I’ve dedicated my career to making sure that all students, regardless of background or zip code, have access to that kind of education.
Jennifer Wu
Venture Partner
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.”
– Maya Angelou
Jen dropped out of the Silicon Valley startup scene and landed in a 4th grade classroom in San Jose. The experience opened her eyes — from wanting to make a difference in one child’s life, to feeling responsibility for all students in her classroom, to seeing systemic inequities in public education. We can do better. She’s been driven by that desire ever since. She’s since worked in ed reform, charter schools, ed tech, and now at Reach Capital.
Little Known Facts
- Hometown favs: Del’s, Allie’s Donuts, clam cakes, Awful Awfuls
- Phases of her life as defined by sports: gymnastics, volleyball, (MMA briefly!), climbing
- Pictionary queen
- Taught a small class in East Palo Alto
Why Education?
There’s nothing like seeing a child discover something new that blows their mind (“Ms. Wu, you have to see this!”), solve a hard problem (“This is so crazy, it just might work!”), or see the world differently than they saw it before. (“Ohhhh….”)
Jim Lobdell
Venture Partner
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
– William Butler Yeats
Jim is an accidental entrepreneur, eschewing the investment banking path that so many of his Stanford classmates took to save the world as a teacher. His classroom was a lively, noisy testament to the power of hands-on learning, which he later codified as History Alive! when he co-founder of Teachers’ Curriculum Institute. Five years in the classroom and three education startups later, he is still driven to make the educational experience more meaningful for all students.
Little Known Facts
- Member of two NCAA championship water polo teams
- Failed spectacularly in his 3-week tenure as a Peace Corps Volunteer
- Played a mean saxophone as a teenager
- Was married at a hunting lodge
Why Education?
Because all kids deserve the kinds of learning experiences where they lean in wide-eyed in animated conversation, where the energy in the classroom is palpable, where they lose track of time, and where the lines between “smart” and “remedial” students blur. Every time I see students engaged like this, I get goosebumps.
Maria Torres
Administrative Assistant
“What wouldn’t I sacrifice to give my kids a better chance?”
– Narisco Rodriguez
As a first generation American, Maria deeply believes that education is the most powerful tool to better opportunity. She reminds her kids every day of the importance of a quality education. Her passion is serving people, and she goes above and beyond to provide great customer service to anyone who walks through Reach’s door. She loves to run (when she finds the time!) and take long walks with her two children.
Little Known Facts
- Identical twin sister
- Helped to raise 10 nieces and nephews
- Native Spanish speaker
Why Education?
As an immigrant from Guanajuato, Mexico, I understood at a young age the sacrifices that my family made to provide a better future for me and my siblings. My lived experience with the US education system was mixed quality, and I hope my work can strengthen our schools – especially for those new to this country and the language – so every child can reach their full potential.