Stefanie Thomas-Martin has been promoted after spearheading a $50 million investment vehicle.
The Wall Street veteran, who holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, joined Zeal Capital Partners—a Washington, D.C.-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology businesses—as its managing director in 2023. Before that, she was a founding member and investor at Impact America Fund (IAF), where she helped grow the company’s assets under management from $7 million to $110 million, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.
Thomas-Martin was entrusted with leading the VC firm’s $50 million Barclays Black Formation Investment (BBFI) vehicle, which funds Black-led companies leveraging services and technology to bridge wealth and skills gaps. She not only successfully led the initiative but also launched its first scout program to train the next generation of venture capitalists.
Her efforts have led to her promotion from managing director to partner, according to a news release shared with AFROTECH™.
“I am honored to take on this new role as Partner at Zeal Capital Partners,” said Thomas-Martin in a news release. “Our work in sourcing, underwriting, and scaling category-leading businesses and nurturing diverse talent across the venture capital ecosystem is more crucial than ever. I look forward to continuing our mission of driving economic mobility to undercapitalized communities while delivering exceptional returns for our investors.”
Nasir Qadree, founder and managing partner of Zeal Capital Partners, commented:
“Stefanie’s promotion to Partner is a testament to her exceptional leadership, investment acumen and track record, and unwavering commitment to our mission and values. Her focus, expertise, and vision have been instrumental in launching the Barclays Black Formation Investment (BBFI) initiative and continuing to drive our Inclusive Investing™ strategy forward. Stefanie’s promotion to Partner underscores her pivotal role in driving Zeal’s growth and advancing our founding investment thesis. Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to build the next-generation investment platform and catalyze mission-driven businesses across healthcare, fintech, and the workforce, shaping an enduring legacy of innovation and impact across the venture capital ecosystem.”
