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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

A Bitcoin spot ETF in your company treasury?

article

Bitcoin seems to be trending upward driven by the expectation of an SEC spot ETF approval—possible hope in the face of despair in other investment classes.

12 cash flow strategies to grow or scale any small business 

expert panel

It's a tough economy. Implement these tips to help your company thrive. When you're trying to get a small-business operation off the ground, sometimes everyone on the team will need to work harder with less until you make a name for yourself and the cash is rolling in. Yet, there is something to be said for running a tight ship, being conservative about your business spending habits, and saving for a rainy day when business is booming. Below, 12 Fast Company Executive Board members each share one way that small-business leaders can effectively manage their cash flow and working capital to ensure they have the resources they need to grow or scale their companies as the economy dictates.

What does the future of work look like across industries?

expert panel

Leading business professionals offer advice to the next generation. In a changing world market and tough economy, no one can predict what the future of work will look like in the short term or 10 years from now. One way or the other, what people are realizing in the new norm is that although technological innovations are being elevated every day, companies need to embrace them if they don't want to be left behind. However, these business leaders also agree that the human touch is still essential to ensure smart decisions are being executed for the growth and success of organizations. Below, 14 experts from Fast Company Executive Board discuss how specific industries are currently being impacted and what the next generation of leaders should do to prepare for the unknown.

12 ways customer video testimonials enhance  business performance 

expert panel

If you want to build better connections with your current and potential customers, here are some best practices to get started. In an uncertain business environment and tight economic conditions, customer testimonials should never be taken for granted or underutilized—especially the ones captured on video. Sharing this type of information with other current and prospective customers is one of the best ways to put any concerns to rest and build on their solid trust in what your brand has to offer in the competitive, crowded marketplace. Below, 12 experts from Fast Company Executive Board discuss how business leaders can leverage customer testimonial videos to impact continued business growth.

Understanding U.S. consumer debt and its impact on businesses

article

Maybe you won’t have a record year, but the point is to survive until the situation calms down.

12 reasons why exit interviews benefit employers and staff

expert panel

To avoid rising employee turnover rates, address your company's weaknesses head-on. If your company is having trouble holding on to some of its best talent in the workforce, then there may be a serious communication gap or issue that needs to be addressed regarding your work culture and a staff that may be feeling dissatisfied or misinformed about what they originally signed up for. Establishing a regular open-door policy that fosters psychological safety for employees to express their interests, career aspirations, or concerns about the organization's business practices is a first step. Proactively seeking feedback from current and outgoing employees is the smartest way to rebuild employee morale and strengthen team relationships. Here, 12 Fast Company Executive Board members weigh in on the exit interview process. They discuss how gathering feedback and analyzing turnover data are helping their companies identify trends and areas in need of improvement.

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