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Zain Jaffer

CEOZain Ventures

San Francisco, CA

Member Since December 2022

Skills

Entrepreneurship
Start-Ups
Social Networking

About

Zain Jaffer is a successful entrepreneur and investor with a diverse range of business ventures. He has a passion for using technology to solve problems and create value, and has spent his career finding innovative ways to do so. Jaffer's first major startup was Vungle, a company that provided in-app video ads on mobile phones. Founded in 2011, when the mobile app industry was in its early stages, Vungle was able to scale and reach over 1 billion people per month across 100,000 mobile apps. The company's revenues eventually grew to over $400 million and it became profitable. In 2019, Vungle was acquired by private equity giant Blackstone for $780M, marking a major milestone in Jaffer's career. In addition to his work with Vungle, Jaffer is also a partner at Blue Field Capital, a US real estate investment firm. At Blue Field Capital, he works with other real estate investors and manages the Bluefield Strategic Fund, a venture capital fund that has invested in over 20 companies. Jaffer is also a board member for several of the fund's portfolio companies, including Visual Feeder, Canopy Analytics, and Basking.io. Alongside his work with the Bluefield Strategic Fund, Jaffer is also involved in a range of commercial real estate ventures, including multifamily, hospitality, senior care, and construction. Expanding on his work in the tech and real estate industries, Jaffer also runs a family office called Zain Ventures. This company allows him to invest across a range of different asset classes and has currently appointed over 100 fund managers. Through Zain Ventures, Jaffer is able to support and encourage visionary entrepreneurs who are looking to shake up industries and create new ones. In addition to his business endeavors, Jaffer is also actively involved in philanthropy and giving back to the community. He runs a private foundation that supports causes all over the world, such as climate change documentaries about India, funding clean water infrastructure in Africa, and supporting organizations like Moms Against Poverty. Jaffer believes in using his success and resources to make a positive impact on the world and has supported numerous charitable causes over the years.

Published content

13 expert talent acquisition strategies to secure long-term success

expert panel

The right talent acquisition strategies can help ensure your company’s long-term success. Every successful company needs a strong talent acquisition strategy. Whether you're focused on building a robust pipeline, streamlining your onboarding process, or leveraging analytics to predict future needs, the right approach can drive sustainable growth and keep your organization competitive.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share how their talent acquisition strategies are shaping the future of their organizations. Here's what they've found to work well and how you can apply these insights to your own talent acquisition efforts.

17 reasons biz leaders should also consider teaching

expert panel

Here's why sharing your expertise as an adjunct professor with the next generation of leaders can be rewarding but challenging. Taking on an adjunct professor role offers leaders a special opportunity to share hard-earned insights with the next generation. This role can be incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to shape future leaders while leaving a lasting professional legacy. However, translating industry experience into an academic setting comes with its own set of challenges, particularly in adapting to different learning styles and expectations.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members share their thoughts on the benefits and hurdles of stepping into this educational role.

9 tips for business owners searching for brick-and-mortar real estate 

expert panel

Business owners must carefully evaluate key factors to ensure their brick-and-mortar locations are set up for long-term success. For any business owner, securing the right real estate for a brick-and-mortar location is a critical decision that requires careful consideration of several market factors. Decisions made during this process can have a long-lasting impact on a business’s success.  Below, Fast Company Executive Board members offer valuable tips to help you make informed decisions when selecting a physical location for your business. From understanding current market trends to evaluating the long-term potential of a location, here's how these key elements can make or break the success of the business. 

20 job search tips for career-changers in the digital age

expert panel

Online platforms like LinkedIn provide opportunities for career professionals to gain a foothold while transitioning to new industries. Many professional skills translate well from one industry to another. For job seekers who are looking to change industries, it's important to be specific about how their professional experiences will help them be successful in their new chosen field. One way to do this is to leverage online platforms to showcase your expertise and transferrable skills. To help, 20 members of Fast Company Executive Board share strategies for translating existing skills into new career paths to stand out to potential employers. Follow their advice to build your professional network, showcase past projects, and provide thoughtful commentary on relevant topics to establish yourself in a new industry.

11 biz steps to embracing, promoting, and living the green life

expert panel

In the global marketplace, it is all or nothing—your brand's reputation is on the line. Before a company can adopt a green business values plan, the leadership team needs to be honest about their passion for sustainability in general because they will need to “walk the walk” if they want other stakeholders to buy into their green policies. Fast Company Executive Board members know all about following your North Star and what it will take to truly stick with it across every aspect of the establishment. Here, they offer 11 best practices for building a startup company with authentic green business practices. Demonstrating transparency and responsibility elevates a positive brand image in the local and global community.

Navigating American business in a post-Chevron deference landscape

article

While this change can help enhance American business competitiveness, there are still instances where courts need input from federal agencies or technical experts.

Company details

Zain Ventures

Company bio

Zain Ventures is a family office founded by entrepreneur and investor Zain Jaffer. With a diverse portfolio of real estate, startups, and other assets, Zain Ventures is committed to supporting and encouraging visionary entrepreneurs who are looking to shake up industries and create new ones. The company's investment approach is simple: place strategic capital with the right fund managers and partner with or invest directly in intra-industry visionaries. To execute this carefully developed investment management strategy, Zain Ventures engages over 100 highly respected and industry-leading fund managers across the fields of public equities, fixed income, and alternatives. These fund managers bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, and are carefully selected for their ability to deliver strong returns for the company's portfolio. At Zain Ventures, the team is committed to investing in innovation, industry disruption, and breakthrough thinking. The company holds a diverse portfolio of assets and is able to invest freely across a variety of asset classes, geographies, return profiles, timelines, and strategies. All investments and funds under management belong to the personal estate of Zain Jaffer, affording the Zain Ventures team the unique capacity to make investment decisions without external constraints. As a lifelong entrepreneur and investor, Zain Jaffer has a wealth of experience in the tech and real estate industries. He has dealt with external angel venture capitalists and investors in various capacities, including as a founder, CEO, board member, shareholder, sponsor, co-investor, and a limited partner. This experience has given him a unique perspective on the world of investing and has allowed him to develop a successful and effective investment strategy for Zain Ventures. Overall, Zain Ventures is a company that is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world through its investments and partnerships. Whether it's supporting visionary entrepreneurs or investing in innovative technologies, Zain Ventures is committed to making a difference in the world.

Industry

Technology

Area of focus

Venture Capital
Stock Exchanges
Angel Investment

Company size

2 - 10