Jared Hecht is a Venture Partner at Union Square Ventures (USV), a prominent venture capital firm based in New York City.14 He joined USV in this role in January 2024, where he leads new investments, supports founders in their portfolio, and works with the USV team on evolving their investment thesis.4

Background and Experience

Jared has an extensive background in the startup ecosystem:

• Education: He graduated from Columbia University with a BA in 2009.3

• Early Career: Hecht began his career at Tumblr, joining as one of the early employees (around the 7th or 8th).2

• Entrepreneurial Success:

  • Co-founded GroupMe, a group messaging app acquired by Skype/Microsoft in 2011.3
  • Founded Fundera, a small business loan marketplace acquired by NerdWallet in 2020.3

• Investing: Prior to joining USV, Jared was an active angel investor, having invested in over 80 companies and venture funds.4

Achievements and Recognition

Hecht has received several accolades for his entrepreneurial achievements:

• Named one of the "Game Changers of 2011" by The New York Enterprise Report.3
• Listed among the "Best Young Technology Entrepreneurs" by Bloomberg Businessweek in 2011.3
• Included in Inc.'s "30 Under 30" list in 2011.3
• Featured in Forbes' "30 Under 30" list in 2015.3

Current Role at Union Square Ventures

As a Venture Partner at USV, Jared brings his experience as a twice-exited founder in both B2B and B2C sectors to his role as an investor.2 He is particularly excited about USV's thesis-driven approach, which focuses on identifying and supporting bold, thematic changes in technology and society.4

Jared Hecht's LinkedIn profile can be found at linkedin.com/in/jaredhecht.3