Ross first met the Elefund team in 2017 and admired the firm’s framework approach to investing and tireless efforts to support portfolio founders. Ross officially joined the team in 2021 with a decade of investing experience, including the previous eight years in venture capital. Ross also had brief stints at Bypass Lane and on Google’s FPA team focused on infrastructure technology – which helped form the foundation for his desire to support emerging technology companies and founders.

When Ross isn’t reading up on new markets or trying to connect friends within his network, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, shooting hoops, finding space-related art, and growing his basketball shoe collection.

What is the most underrated characteristic of successful founders? Empathy – while so much focus is placed on products and markets, building a successful company requires maximizing human relationships – from motivating team members and ensuring they have ownership in the company’s success to understanding customer needs and constraints. Empathy goes a long way towards achieving these goals, and in venture capital as well.