HEIDI PATEL

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.