Emerson Collective

According to her official biography, Laurene Powell Jobs has combined philanthropy and venture investing through Emerson Collective since 2011.⁠[1]

Emerson acquired land in East Palo Alto’s Ravenswood Business District to consolidate fragmented ownership and support community plans for housing, jobs and public space. The team had approached the city in 2013 after observing that returning College Track graduates still faced limited employment and homeownership opportunities.⁠[2]

Emerson Collective and former U.S. education secretary Arne Duncan established Chicago CRED. The program combines community intervention, support services and legal employment opportunities for Chicago residents at elevated risk of gun violence. Its first cohort served 30 men in fall 2016.⁠[3][4]

The Atlantic announced that Emerson Collective had agreed to acquire majority ownership, with David Bradley retaining a minority interest. The transaction covered the magazine, digital operations, events and consulting; financial terms were undisclosed.⁠[5]

Boom Supersonic announced a $100 million Series B led by Emerson Collective to advance development of its Overture supersonic airliner. The total included $56 million in new investment and previously announced strategic investments. Participants included Y Combinator Continuity, Caffeinated Capital and SV Angel.⁠[6]

Emerson opened Bloomhouse in East Palo Alto as a space for community engagement and resident events, while working with the community and planning partners on a waterfront master plan.⁠[2]

Curriculum and assessment company Amplify announced $215 million in growth funding. Existing investor Emerson Collective participated alongside Learn Capital and A-Street Ventures, with proceeds intended for acquisitions and product development.⁠[7]

Emerson announced the Community Champions cohort of EC Fellows, supporting 12 participants undertaking local projects focused on community connections and bridging social divides.⁠[8]

Women’s health provider Midi Health announced a $60 million Series B led by Emerson Collective, with participation from GV and other investors. Midi provides virtual care addressing perimenopause, menopause and other health needs of women in midlife.⁠[9]

Emerson published the full recording of its ninth Demo Day on its official YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry channel. Host Chad Griffin introduced ten leaders from its portfolio and two conversations, covering education, energy, journalism, health and technology. Laurene Powell Jobs moderated the discussion with Jony Ive and Sam AltmanSam AltmanSam Altman is an entrepreneur and investor, and the co-founder and chief executive officer of OpenAI. He previously served as president of Y Combinator and founded the location-based social service Loopt. He also helped found Tools for Humanity and Merge Labs, has invested in energy and life sciences ventures, and has driven public discussion of AI governance, employment, and wealth distribution.Open the full entry.⁠[10]

Its year-end letter highlighted Chai Discovery’s AI drug design, Teal Health’s home screening tools and Antora’s thermal energy storage, alongside literacy work with Maryland READS and independent bookstores. The projects illustrate the different strands of its investing and philanthropic activities.⁠[11]

Emerson Collective is structured as a limited liability company. Powell Jobs says this enables it to combine investing, grants, art and advocacy. Emerson refers to writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, while Collective expresses an emphasis on collaboration.⁠[1]

Its venture investments span company stages and focus on energy and the environment, digital health, fintech, education, work and media. Philanthropic grants support nonprofits, often through multiyear general operating funding with streamlined reporting and optional capacity-building assistance.⁠[12][13]

Emerson Consequential Scholars, developed with Sutter Hill Ventures, offers PhD students and postdoctoral researchers entrepreneurial learning, mentorship and connections to explore applications of their work beyond the laboratory. The separate Emerson Collective Fellowship supports intellectual, creative and professional projects.⁠[14][15][16]

Emerson Collective: Official website: https://www.emersoncollective.com/ (opens in a new window); X: https://x.com/EmCollective (opens in a new window); YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@emerson-collective (opens in a new window); LinkedInLinkedInLinkedIn is a social networking platform for professionals. It was founded in 2002 by Reid Hoffman and others, launched in 2003, and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2011; after Microsoft acquired it for approximately $26.2 billion in 2016, it became a wholly owned Microsoft subsidiary. Its revenue comes from membership subscriptions, advertising, and recruitment solutions.Open the full entry: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emerson-collective/ (opens in a new window).⁠[17][18][19][15]

Chicago CRED: Official website: https://www.chicagocred.org/ (opens in a new window).⁠[4]

Bloomhouse: Official website: https://www.bloomhouseepa.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[2]

Emerson Consequential Scholars: Official website: https://www.emersonconsequentialscholars.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[14]