Key Takeaways
- • Juvo Ventures, a double-bottom-line venture capital firm, has been launched by education-sector veterans Maia Sharpley and Dre Bennin, who together bring over 30 years of combined investing and operating experience in technology-enabled education.
- • The firm's initial fund focuses on early-stage investments across the early-childhood-through-adult learning sector and is anchored by Western Governors University (WGU), which formed and sponsors the fund.
- • Juvo Ventures previously operated as New U Venture Partners (NUVP) and already holds eight portfolio investments across North America, while hosting six startups in its inaugural "Bridge to Success" incubator, half of them based outside North America.
- • The announcement does not disclose a fund size or target capital raise.
Summary
Juvo Ventures, a venture capital firm headquartered in Salt Lake City, was announced via Business Wire as a double-bottom-line vehicle designed to invest in education ventures across the learner lifecycle. The firm aims to expand access, improve quality, increase learner outcomes, and broaden pathways between talent and opportunity, while also seeking to maximize investor returns.
Founding managing partners Maia Sharpley and Dre Bennin collectively bring more than 30 years of experience investing in, managing, and operating technology-enabled education ventures in the United States and internationally. Sharpley has served on the boards of numerous education companies and previously held roles as Executive Director of Operations for the New York City Department of Education and Corporate Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Kaplan, Inc. Most recently she was a partner at Learn Capital, a Silicon Valley-based EdTech investment firm. Bennin previously served as Managing Director of Corporate Development at Strada Education Network and as Senior Operations Director for Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, where he helped oversee the creation of a $250 million fund to advance entrepreneurship and innovation in the state. According to the release, the two have participated on the boards of more than 15 companies.
The initial fund will focus on early-stage investments across the early-childhood-through-adult learning sector. It is anchored by Western Governors University, which, per the release, formed and sponsors Juvo Ventures. Juvo already has eight portfolio investments throughout North America and is hosting six startups in its inaugural "Bridge to Success" incubator program, three of which are outside North America. The firm was previously known as New U Venture Partners (NUVP) and is expanding its mandate beyond post-secondary education to include early childhood through adult learning globally.
WGU Trustee and DreamBox Learning CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson and WGU President Scott Pulsipher offered endorsements, with Pulsipher arguing that entrepreneurs are often overlooked by venture funders because they lack traditional profiles. The release does not disclose fund size, capital commitments, or specific investment terms.
Founding managing partners Maia Sharpley and Dre Bennin collectively bring more than 30 years of experience investing in, managing, and operating technology-enabled education ventures in the United States and internationally. Sharpley has served on the boards of numerous education companies and previously held roles as Executive Director of Operations for the New York City Department of Education and Corporate Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Kaplan, Inc. Most recently she was a partner at Learn Capital, a Silicon Valley-based EdTech investment firm. Bennin previously served as Managing Director of Corporate Development at Strada Education Network and as Senior Operations Director for Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb, where he helped oversee the creation of a $250 million fund to advance entrepreneurship and innovation in the state. According to the release, the two have participated on the boards of more than 15 companies.
The initial fund will focus on early-stage investments across the early-childhood-through-adult learning sector. It is anchored by Western Governors University, which, per the release, formed and sponsors Juvo Ventures. Juvo already has eight portfolio investments throughout North America and is hosting six startups in its inaugural "Bridge to Success" incubator program, three of which are outside North America. The firm was previously known as New U Venture Partners (NUVP) and is expanding its mandate beyond post-secondary education to include early childhood through adult learning globally.
WGU Trustee and DreamBox Learning CEO Jessie Woolley-Wilson and WGU President Scott Pulsipher offered endorsements, with Pulsipher arguing that entrepreneurs are often overlooked by venture funders because they lack traditional profiles. The release does not disclose fund size, capital commitments, or specific investment terms.
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