Jesse Draper
Jesse Draper is a venture investor, board member, and prominent advocate for gender equality in the technology and startup ecosystem. She is the Founding Partner of Halogen Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund based in Los Angeles that focuses on investing in consumer technology and B2B companies led by female and co-ed teams. A fourth-generation venture capitalist and the first solo female general partner in Los Angeles, Draper has built a reputation for championing innovation that addresses critical challenges facing women and families. Her leadership has positioned her as a leading voice in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within venture capital.
Under Draper’s direction, Halogen Ventures has invested in more than 75 high-growth companies, including Babylist, ThirdLove, Trust & Will, and The Flex Company. Several of these investments have achieved significant exits or billion-dollar valuations, reflecting Draper’s strong ability to identify and scale transformative businesses. Beyond investing, she is widely recognized for her influential thought leadership, including her widely circulated article advocating for greater investment in women-led companies. She also launched the Halogen Fellowship to expand access and opportunity within the venture capital industry.
In addition to her investment work, Draper is an Emmy-nominated television host and media personality, having launched her career with the talk show The Valley Girl Show. She frequently appears on major networks such as Bloomberg, CNBC, and CNN, where she shares insights on entrepreneurship and venture capital. Draper serves on multiple corporate and nonprofit boards and is a Kauffman Fellow, recognized by organizations such as Inc. and Business Insider as one of the top investors in the United States. A graduate of University of California, Los Angeles, she continues to mentor and support the next generation of entrepreneurs while balancing her role as a mother of three.
• UCLA - BA, Theater
• Pioneer Award
• Shine Global's Shining Example Award
• 2023 Women's Leadership Awards Finalist
• Community Achievement Award
• The 50 DealmakeHers Power List
• 44 Female Founders Every Entrepreneur Should Know
• Hollywood's New Leaders
• 50 Most Connect Women in America
• Create & Cultivate 100
• Levo 100
• Seed 25: Best Female Seed Investors
• PledgeLA
• Bizworld
• Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center
• UCLA Alumni Association
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Defy Ventures