Emerson Collective, LLC is an American company founded byLaurene Powell Jobs.[1] The company invests in entrepreneurs and innovators working in education, energy and the environment, immigration, media and journalism.[1] Founded in 2011 inPalo Alto, California, Emerson Collective is considered to be one of the leading groups engaged in bothventure capital investing andphilanthropy.[5] In 2017, the company acquired a majority interest inThe Atlantic magazine.[6]
Emerson Collective was founded in 2011 by Laurene Powell Jobs in Palo Alto, California.[7] Named aftertranscendentalist writer andThe Atlantic co-founder,Ralph Waldo Emerson, the company says its mission is "working to create a world that honors talent, expands opportunity and ensures the conditions for human flourishing."[8]
Powell Jobs has said the decision to found the company grew from insights she gained working with students through College Track, anonprofit organization founded in 1997 to improve high school graduation, college enrollment and college graduation rates for students from under-resourced communities.[9][10] In a Q&A on the company’s website she wrote: "Working with the students, families and staff of College Track enriched my understanding of our country and the many systems within it. Education is not an isolated or siloed domain. It connects to a broader set of systems that touch people’s lives, including immigration, health, environment and economic opportunities. The understanding of just how interconnected these issues are was fundamental to the creation of Emerson Collective."[10]
In 2015, Powell Jobs and Emerson Collective's managing director of education, Russlynn Ali, launched the affiliateXQ Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to rethinking American public high school so students are prepared for success in college, career and life.[11][12] The company provided $100 million to the charity which has been awarded to 10 selected schools across the US.[12]
In 2015, Emerson Collective became the lead investor in education technology companyAmplify.[13]
In 2023, a documentary called 'The First Class', chronicled the founding class of Crosstown High, an XQ school inMemphis, Tennessee.[14]
When Emerson Collective was established, grants and investments largely focused on the education sector.[1] As Powell Jobs began learning more about the challenges plaguing immigrant students, particularly those whose undocumented status made it difficult to attend college, Emerson Collective broadened its portfolio to include immigration reform and advocacy.[1]
Emerson Collective was a strong advocate of the creation of PresidentBarack Obama'sDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and have continued to push for permanent legislation to provide "Dreamers" with a path to citizenship.[15] In October 2016, Powell Jobs wrote an article titled "Immigrants Fuel Innovation. Let's Not Waste Their Potential" forWIRED.[16]
Emerson Collective is a funder of Elemental Impact, a nonprofit organization which invests in technologies that seek to create economic and environmental impact in communities.[18][19] According to its 2024 annual report, Elemental Impact has a portfolio of 160 companies that have generated $11.5 billion in additional funding and created over 17,000 jobs.[20]
In 2021, Emerson Collective invested inCommonwealth Fusion Systems, a company developing fusion energy.[21] The company has made several other investments in energy and clean technology companies including Antora Energy,Zap Energy,Twelve and Lilac Solutions.[22][23][24][25]
In July 2017, Emerson acquired a majority stake inThe Atlantic fromDavid Bradley.[6] At the time of the acquisition, it was announced that Emerson would acquire full control and ownership of the company within “three to five” years.[6][26]
Emerson Collective operates as alimited liability company and focuses its activity on venture capital investment and philanthropy.[32] It also providesfellowships andinternship programs.[1][7] The company hosts an annual event called ‘Demo Day’ to showcase companies and founders who are pursuing innovative solutions across its areas of work.[33]
Emerson Collective provides investment to companies across all stages.[1] According to its website, it predominantly invests in companies in energy and environment,artificial intelligence,digital health,fintech, education, work and media.[7][34]
Emerson Collective supports and funds non-profit organizations through multi-year grants and donations.[35] The company’s philanthropic giving is typically anonymous, something Powell Jobs explained in an interview withBloomberg in 2022, saying: "Often what happens with philanthropy is there's a lot of power that accrues to the giver and not as much to the organizations and the leaders that are doing the work on the ground. I wanted to make sure that the leaders and the incredible workers who were doing day-to-day work to improve the lives of other humans were actually in the front and we were in the back."[36]
In 2015, Emerson Collective became the lead investor in education technology company Amplify.[13]
On September 1, 2016, Emerson Collective invested in series A funding forAxios Media, a news website focusing on business, technology, politics and media trends.[40] The company exited the investment in 2022 when Axios was sold toCox Enterprises.[41]
On July 28, 2017, Emerson Collective became the majority owner ofThe Atlantic, purchasing the majority stake fromAtlantic Media's David Bradley.[42] The outlets owned by Emerson Collective includeThe Atlantic magazine and its digital properties along with its standout events line, AtlanticLIVE and its consulting division, Atlantic 57.[43]
In 2019, Emerson Collective led a round of funding forBoom Supersonic, an aerospace company that aims to make supersonic commercial flight a realization again.[46]
In 2021, Emerson Collective invested in Commonwealth Fusion Systems, an American fusion energy company.[21]
In 2024, Emerson Collective led a $60 million series B round for Midi Health.[47]
In 2025, Emerson Collective co-led a $10 million seed extension round for Teal Health to help the company launch the Teal Wand, an at-home cervical cancer self-collection device.[48]
^abc"Company Overview of Emerson Collective LLC".Bloomberg. November 25, 2017. Archived fromthe original on November 26, 2017. RetrievedNovember 26, 2017.Emerson Collective LLC invests and advocates for immigration reform, environment, school improvement, and social justice initiatives through investments in entrepreneurs and nonprofits. It also supports public policy advocates. Emerson Collective LLC was founded in 2004 and is based in Palo Alto, California.
