JFFVentures

JFFVentures is the nation's leading impact venture fund, specializing exclusively in early-stage companies developing future of work and workforce development technologies. The firm invests in innovative solutions that enable economic advancement for workers in low- and middle-wage jobs, focusing on areas such as reskilling and upskilling, employer workforce management, job placement and career navigation, and holistic well-being supports for workers. By partnering with Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit with over 40 years of expertise, JFFVentures drives systemic change to create more inclusive and equitable economies, aligning with JFF's North Star goal of enabling 75 million Americans facing barriers to secure quality jobs by 2033.

JFFVentures operates as a strategic arm of Jobs for the Future, leveraging the nonprofit's deep networks in education, workforce development, and policy to identify and scale high-impact startups. Founded to address the vulnerabilities of low-wage workers amid rapid technological shifts and talent shortages, the fund prioritizes entrepreneurs with lived experiences who are building solutions at the intersection of education, workforce technology, HR tech, and wraparound services. This approach ensures investments are grounded in real-world needs, fostering paradigm shifts in learning and work ecosystems.

While specific portfolio companies are not detailed in available sources, JFFVentures targets early-stage ventures that demonstrate strong impact potential, including those led by underrepresented founders and serving diverse geographies. The fund has been featured in publications like ImpactAlpha and Workshift for its investments in workforce education startups serving lower-income learners, emphasizing measurable outcomes in economic mobility and portfolio diversity.

The team is led by Managing Partner Yigal Kerszenbaum, with an advisory board comprising senior executives from major corporations such as Oracle, Salesforce, Citi, Indeed, NBCUniversal, Hilton, Unity, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, Blackstone, Siemens Healthineers, McDonald’s, Host Hotels & Resorts, Intel, Northwestern Mutual, Amazon, and Alphabet. This cross-sector expertise in talent acquisition, workforce development, and social impact provides strategic guidance to portfolio companies.