Jake Medwell Bio
A distinguished entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Jake Medwell has dedicated his career to creating and expanding companies. As a co-founder and partner at 8VC, a venture capital fund based in Austin, Texas, he has amassed an impressive $6 billion in assets under management, establishing himself as a logistics tech investing sector leader.
Under his guidance, 8VC has led investments in several successful companies, including Project 44, Deliverr, Platform Science, FlexPort, FreightWaves, Motive, Trackonomy, The Boring Company, and Outrider.
His entrepreneurial path began well before his time at 8VC. He was the founding force behind Humin, a consumer mobile software company later acquired by Tinder/IAC. There, he assembled the engineering team and spearheaded growth. His business acumen was evident even during college, having founded Solé Bicycle Co., which he developed into a market leader before it was acquired.
Early Life and Education
His journey in entrepreneurship started at the University of Southern California (USC), where he enrolled in 2007. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Entrepreneurship at the Marshall School of Business. Demonstrating exceptional abilities early on, he lectured in the MBA program while still an undergraduate
Before graduating in 2011, he co-founded Kairos and Solé Bicycle Co., maintaining active roles in these firms. His ties with USC remain strong, often lecturing on technology and entrepreneurship and endowing the Athena Entrepreneurship Award.
Serial Entrepreneur
From a young age, his entrepreneurial spirit was evident. While in school, he launched Solé Bicycle Co., leading it to become a leading industry figure before its acquisition. His aptitude for creating thriving businesses didn't end there. He also co-founded Humin, a consumer mobile software firm, where he built the engineering team and led the company to growth until its acquisition by Tinder/IAC.
His entrepreneurial efforts also extended into the non-profit sector, with the co-founding of The Kairos Society, which is dedicated to solving global problems through business innovation
Founding Partner at 8VC
Jake Medwell is most prominently known for founding 8VC, a B AUM task capital fund in Austin, Texas. Recognized as a leader in logistics tech investment, 8VC has been involved in deals with
high-profile companies like Deliverr, Project 44, FlexPort, Platform Science, FreightWaves, Trackonomy, Motive, The Boring Company, Outrider, and others
8VC partners with entrepreneurs to build technology platforms that generate long-term economic and societal value. They boast a track record as founders of successful enterprises such as Palantir, Addepar, Affinity, and OpenGov. 8VC's investment focus includes innovative enterprise platforms across various industries, including financial services, healthcare, logistics, and bio-IT
Building Businesses: A Series of Successful Ventures
His entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond Solé Bicycle Co. Over the years, he played a pivotal role in launching and developing several successful companies:
Kairos
In 2009, he co-founded Kairos and later joined its board of directors. Through Kairos, he has mentored young entrepreneurs and connected them with global industry leaders and mentors. Today, Kairos runs several investment funds and a program that launches 2-3 companies annually, focusing on societal challenges
Humin
He co-founded Humin 2012, a platform designed to enhance connections by aggregating and contextualizing data. The platform revolutionized contact storage and interaction with mobile phones. Humin was acquired by IAC in 2016.
8VC
In 2015, he co-founded 8VC, a top-performing private investment fund with over $5 billion of committed capital. 8VC's investment areas include enterprise software, logistics, biotechnology, and healthcare. He was recognized as the most active logistics technology investor by PitchBook in 2020.
Baton
In 2018, he co-founded Baton, a technology platform that optimizes trucking logistics by reducing detention and layover times for drivers. Baton recently secured significant funding from notable investors like Maersk, Prologis, and Ryder.
Philanthropic Endeavors: Operation Masks
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and a business partner founded Operation Masks, a nonprofit sourcing PPE for medical workers. They successfully distributed PPE to various health centers across the U.S
With a unique approach to prioritizing founders, he has been instrumental in reshaping the freight tech sector. Focusing on industry specialists, Jake Medwell has helped develop platforms that integrate seamlessly into business processes, significantly impacting emerging and established logistics and transportation companies.
