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Heidi Patel is a Managing Partner at Rethink Impact and a Lecturer in Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-leads a venture capital firm with over $500 million in assets under management, recently closing a $250 million third fund to back female-led technology companies. Previously, Patel served as President of New Island Capital Management, where she oversaw a global portfolio of more than 100 investments, and held partner or director roles at DBL Partners and Pacific Community Ventures. The Princeton University and Stanford University graduate currently holds board director seats at several growing startups, including Culina Health, Full Harvest, and Clarity Pediatrics. Her investment career remains focused on scaling mission-driven enterprises that generate measurable social and environmental returns across the healthcare, education, and sustainability sectors.
Heidi Patel stands as a distinguished Managing Partner at Rethink Impact, a pioneering venture capital firm committed to investing in female leaders who leverage technology to tackle the world's most pressing issues. In her pivotal role, Heidi is instrumental in shaping Rethink Impact's investment strategy, identifying groundbreaking companies, and nurturing their growth to achieve both significant financial returns and profound social and environmental impact.
Heidi's investment philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that diverse leadership, particularly from women founders, combined with innovative technology, can unlock scalable solutions to global challenges. She actively seeks out and supports companies operating in critical sectors such as education, health and wellness, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and the future of work. Her focus is on enterprises that are not only financially robust but also inherently designed to create positive, measurable change in society.
Before joining Rethink Impact, Heidi built an impressive career marked by diverse experiences across venture capital, technology, and international development. She previously served as a Partner at New Markets Venture Partners, where she focused on early and growth stage investments in education and workforce technology. Her background also includes impactful tenures at Revolution Growth, Steve Case's growth equity firm, and Google, where she worked in Strategy and Operations. Earlier in her career, Heidi contributed to global development efforts at the World Bank, gaining valuable insights into systemic challenges and potential solutions. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA from Harvard University, underscoring her strong academic foundation.
Heidi's expertise extends beyond just capital deployment; she is a strategic partner to the founders she supports, offering guidance on scaling operations, market penetration, and impact measurement. While specific investments are often a collaborative effort across the Rethink Impact team, the firm's portfolio reflects her vision, including companies like Ellevest, a financial wellness platform for women, CareAcademy, which provides online training for professional caregivers, and Winnie, a marketplace for childcare and early education. These investments exemplify her commitment to empowering solutions that improve lives and foster a more equitable and sustainable future.
Through her leadership at Rethink Impact, Heidi Patel continues to be a driving force in the impact investing landscape, demonstrating that purpose and profit can, and should, go hand in hand.
Heidi Patel is the Managing Partner at Rethink Impact, a prominent venture capital firm. She is a recognized leader in impact investing, focusing on supporting women-led technology companies that aim to solve significant social and environmental problems.
Heidi Patel invests in technology companies led by women that are creating positive social and environmental impact. Her focus areas include education, health, economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and the future of work.
Heidi Patel works as the Managing Partner at Rethink Impact. Rethink Impact is a venture capital firm based in the United States, known for its commitment to investing in female founders driving impact.
