Jesse Draper

Jesse Draper is a venture capitalist, TV personality, and gender equality advocate based in Santa Monica, California. She is the founding partner of Halogen Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on consumer technology companies led by female and co-ed teams. Jesse Draper, a fourth-generation venture capitalist and a Kauffman Fellow, has invested in over 70 companies, including The Skimm, ThirdLove, HopSkipDrive, The Flex Company, Squad (acquired by Twitter), Eloquii (sold to Walmart), and This is L (sold to P&G). She is committed to addressing the gender gap in venture capital by supporting women entrepreneurs. 

In 2015, Jesse Draper founded Halogen Ventures to invest in female-led consumer technology companies. She recently closed a $21 million fund to invest in the next generation of billion-dollar businesses run by women. Her investments focus on solving issues related to education, healthcare, and family support, emphasising the value of investing in diverse teams.

Jesse Draper began her career as an actress on Nickelodeon’s "The Naked Brothers Band" and later created and hosted the Emmy-nominated series "The Valley Girl Show." Through this platform, she interviewed influential figures like Ted Turner, Mark Cuban, Sheryl Sandberg, and Elon Musk. This experience in media helped her transition into venture capital, where she focuses on investing in female founders and co-ed teams. She also established the "Halogen Fellowship in Venture Capital" to promote diversity in the industry.

In addition to her work at Halogen Ventures, Jesse Draper hosts the "MOMumental" podcast, where she explores issues related to childcare, education, foster care, and parenting. The podcast features discussions with entrepreneurs, celebrities, and policymakers about challenges and solutions in these areas, emphasising the importance of supporting families and children.

Jesse Draper is involved with several boards, including Trust & Will, Preemadonna, Mirza, and The Flex Company. She gained attention with her viral Medium article, “Investing in Women Isn’t a Charity,” highlighting the need for equitable funding for women entrepreneurs. Her efforts have been recognised by Business Insider, which named her one of the top 10 early-stage female investors, and by Marie Claire magazine, which included her in its list of the ‘50 Most Connected Women in America.’

She has also participated in non-profit organisations such as PledgeLA, an initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in Los Angeles’ tech industry, and Project Glimmer, which supports underserved teenage girls. Jesse Draper also supports UCLA’s female entrepreneurship community and contributes to initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the venture capital industry.

Recently, Jesse Draper joined the Roku Channel series "Side Hustlers" as a guest star, showcasing her support for entrepreneurs. She is also a frequent speaker at industry events and contributes to publications like Forbes and Marie Claire, discussing the importance of investing in women and the potential of technology to solve societal challenges. Jesse Draper’s work aims to reshape the venture capital landscape by highlighting and investing in female-led businesses.

Jesse Draper was born Jessica Cook Draper on 5 January 1986. She is the daughter of Melissa Lee Parker Draper and Timothy C. Draper, a prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist known as the founding partner of venture capital firm the Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ). Her family has a long history in venture capital, making Jesse Draper a fourth-generation venture capitalist. Her grandfather, William Henry Draper III, was the former chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and her great-grandfather, William Henry Draper Jr., served as the first U.S. Ambassador to NATO.

Jesse Draper attended UCLA and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre. During her time at UCLA, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Initially, she pursued a career in acting and appeared on Nickelodeon’s series "The Naked Brothers Band" from 2007 to 2009, playing a recurring role in 39 episodes. While she found success in acting, her interest in technology and business led her to explore new avenues.

In 2008, she created and hosted "The Valley Girl Show," an Emmy-nominated web talk show where she interviewed leaders in technology, business, and entertainment, including Ted Turner, Mark Cuban, Sheryl Sandberg, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Jessica Alba, and Elon Musk. The show was well-received and helped establish Jesse Draper as a knowledgeable voice in the tech industry.

In 2015, Jesse Draper founded Halogen Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on investing in consumer technology companies led by female and co-ed teams. Halogen Ventures supports companies addressing challenges faced by women and families, promoting gender diversity in business. 

Jesse Draper invested in over 70 companies through Halogen Ventures, the firm’s portfolio includes a variety of notable companies such as The Skimm, a media company offering news in a digestible format; ThirdLove, known for its inclusive lingerie sizing; HopSkipDrive, a safe transportation service for children; The Flex Company, which provides innovative menstrual products; Squad, a screen-sharing platform acquired by Twitter; Eloquii, a plus-size fashion brand acquired by Walmart; and This is L, a sustainable personal care company acquired by P&G. Other investments include Carbon38, an activewear brand; Naya Health, known for its innovative breast pumps; Sugarfina, a luxury candy boutique; Laurel & Wolf, an online interior design service; Glamsquad, an on-demand beauty service; Babylist, a platform for customised baby registries; Ellevest, a digital investment platform for women; StyleRow, a digital platform for interior designers; Blue Fever, a social network for young women; Barn & Willow, a direct-to-consumer home décor brand; Move Loot, a marketplace for used furniture; VIDA, a socially responsible fashion e-commerce platform; and BlockCypher, a provider of blockchain infrastructure and solutions.

In 2019, she launched the “Halogen Fellowship in Venture Capital” to promote diversity and inclusion in the venture capital industry, aiming to provide opportunities for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

Jesse Draper also serves on the boards of several companies, including Trust & Will, Preemadonna, Mirza, and The Flex Company. She is involved in non-profit organisations such as PledgeLA, an initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in Los Angeles’ tech industry, and Project Glimmer, which supports underserved teenage girls.

Jesse Draper has been recognised as one of Business Insider’s top 10 early-stage female investors and was named by Marie Claire as one of the "50 Most Connected Women in America." She frequently appears as a guest on media platforms like Cheddar, CNBC, and CNN, where she discusses venture capital, technology, and gender equality. Recently, she featured as a guest star on the Roku Channel series "Side Hustlers," showcasing her support for entrepreneurs.

In 2024, Jesse Draper announced the closure of a $21 million fund dedicated to investing in the next generation of billion-dollar businesses run by women. This fund reflects her commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and fostering innovation in consumer technology. Her investments focus on companies that provide solutions to challenges in education, healthcare, and family support.

Jesse Draper also hosts the "MOMumental" podcast, where she explores topics related to childcare, education, and parenting. The podcast features discussions with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and experts, addressing the complex issues facing families today.

Currently, Jesse Draper is an American venture capitalist, TV personality, and advocate for gender equality in technology and venture capital, continues to lead Halogen Ventures, focusing on identifying and supporting innovative companies led by women and diverse teams. Her ongoing work aims to reshape the venture capital landscape and create opportunities for female entrepreneurs to succeed in the technology and consumer sectors.

Jesse Draper’s vision is to create a more inclusive and diverse venture capital industry by supporting female and co-ed teams in consumer technology. Through Halogen Ventures, she aims to address the challenges faced by women and families by investing in innovative companies that bring meaningful solutions. Jesse believes in the potential of women-led businesses to drive positive change and economic growth. Her goal is to bridge the gender gap in business and technology, ensuring that female entrepreneurs receive the support they need to succeed and make a lasting impact on society and the economy.

Jesse Draper has received several honours for her contributions to venture capital and gender equality. In 2023, she was a finalist for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women’s Leadership Awards. In 2022, she received the Community Achievement Award from the Junior League of Los Angeles for her leadership in the community. Draper was named one of the "50 Most Connected Women in America" by Marie Claire and one of the top 50 female dealmakers by the National Retail Federation. She has also been recognised by Business Insider as one of the “Seed 25: Best Female Seed Investors.”