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Jarrod Barnes
Head of Ecosystem @ NEAR
Jarrod Barnes is an investor specializing in early-stage investments at Emerson Collective, a social change organization focused on areas such as education, the future of work, healthcare, climate tech, and sustainability.1246 Before his role at Emerson Collective, he was a Venture Fellow at Unshackled Ventures and the first hire for the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute, a non-profit incubator founded by NFL athlete Jaylon Smith.25
Barnes has a diverse background, having worked as a college football coach at Ohio State University and Clemson University, and in professional sports with the Los Angeles Rams.23 He is also a startup founder, having established Prime U, a learning and development platform for sports teams, and the Athlete Development Lab, a community for sports tech professionals.23
Jarrod Barnes holds degrees from Ohio State University and the University of Louisville and is currently completing his Doctorate in Learning Design at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign.2 Additionally, he serves as a clinical assistant professor at NYU's Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport.3
