Aaron Jacobson
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Aaron Jacobson is a Partner at NEA focused on AI, cybersecurity, developer tools, and robotics. He joined NEA in 2011 and invests across seed/early and growth stages.
Bio
Professional summary
Rick Yang is Partner and Head of Technology at NEA. NEA's profile says he joined the firm in 2007 and now heads its technology investing practice, with a focus on fintech, consumer, and AI application investments. In addition to board positions at NEA portfolio companies, he serves on the Stanford Department of Athletics' investment fund board and the Stanford Engineering Venture Fund board. He is also an All Raise VC Champion and mentor for BLCK VC. Before NEA, Rick worked at Credit Suisse. He earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, where he was also on the swim team.
Investment focus
Stage, sector, and overall fit
Stage
verified: Growthverified: Seed/Early
Sector
verified: Technologyverified: Fintechverified: Consumerverified: AI applications
Thesis
FintechConsumerAI applicationsTechnology across seed/early and growth stages
How to approach
Framing and angles for outreach
Pitch framing
Pitch a technology company with strong founder/investor fit around fintech, consumer, or AI applications, and emphasize value alignment and direct communication.
Personalization hooks
- 1His NEA interview emphasizes accessibility, truth seeking, and value alignment as traits founders should seek in an investor.
- 2Stanford engineering and athletics background, including service on Stanford-related investment boards.
- 3Mentorship and ecosystem work with All Raise and BLCK VC.
Recent signals
What the partner has said or done recently
NEA profile frames him as current head of the firm's technology practice and explicitly names AI application investments.
Background
Career, education, and skills
Career history
- New Enterprise Associates (NEA)Partner, Head of Technology2007 - Present (16+ years)
Education
- Stanford UniversityUndergraduate degree (competitive swimmer, walk-on)
Skills
fintechconsumer investingAI applicationsearly-stage and growth investing
Other partners at New Enterprise Associates
12 more profiles
Alex Sharata
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA growth Partner investing across enterprise, fintech, consumer, and AI.
Alexa Grabelle
Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Associate focused on early-stage AI, consumer tech and fintech.
Andrew Schoen
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Andrew Schoen is a Partner at NEA investing in AI/ML, cybersecurity, fintech, frontier and deep tech, and technically differentiated software. His official NEA profile tags him for Technology, Growth, and Seed/Early.
Arjun Jain
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA technology Partner focused on consumer and enterprise investments.
Ashley Jepson
Senior Analyst
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Analyst investing in data and AI infrastructure.
Aya Somai
Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Associate investing in early-stage technology companies.
Ayush Goradia
Senior Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Associate focused on enterprise and consumer technology.
Blake Wu
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Blake Wu is a Partner at NEA focused on digital health, healthcare services, healthcare IT, and biopharmaceuticals. His official NEA profile tags him under Healthcare, Life Sciences, Digital Health, Seed/Early, and Growth.
Carmen Chang
Partner, Head of Asia
New Enterprise Associates
Partner and Head of Asia at NEA focused on technology investing across China, emerging Asia, the US, and Europe.
Danielle Ezratty
Senior Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Associate focused on digital health investing.
Danielle Lay
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Partner investing in AI companies across consumer and enterprise.