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Zach Jaffe

Zach Jaffe

Early-Stage Investor, Entrepreneurial Cheerleader, and Design Innovator

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Boston, Massachusetts
Joined July 2025
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Summary

Zach Jaffe is an early-stage venture capital investor with a focus on AI-native enterprise and cybersecurity companies at Glasswing Ventures. He actively serves as a Board Observer for several portfolio companies, including Iris Finance, Realm.Security, Inc, Narrative I/O, and Lambent, demonstrating his deep involvement in nurturing emerging tech startups. glasswing+1
He possesses a strong background in entrepreneurship and venture capital, honed through roles as Managing Partner and Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund, where he was instrumental in sourcing, evaluating, and investing in student-led startups. His experience extends to SineWave Ventures and as an MBA Associate at MK Capital, showcasing a consistent commitment to the startup ecosystem. dormroomfund+1
Zach is a proponent of human-centered design in venture capital, advocating for a problem-oriented approach to investing. This philosophy, shaped by his dual MBA and MS in Design Innovation from Northwestern University, emphasizes understanding core pain points and developing solutions that genuinely meet user needs. medium+1
Before transitioning into venture capital, Zach held leadership positions in strategy and operations at Turbonomic, an IBM company. This experience in a rapidly growing tech company that was later acquired by a major enterprise provided him with valuable insights into Go-To-Market strategies and operational excellence. theorg+1
During his undergraduate studies at The Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a BA in International Studies and Latin American Studies, Zach was also an active member of the university's baseball team, demonstrating discipline and teamwork alongside his academic pursuits. hopkinssports

Work

Education

Writing

The Case for Human-centered Design in Venture Capital

January 1, 2024

Discusses how human-centered design principles can be applied effectively in venture capital, particularly in sourcing and due diligence. Emphasizes being problem-oriented rather than solution-oriented to identify viable investment opportunities.

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Navigating the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Landscape at Northwestern

January 1, 2023

A guide for Northwestern students on the entrepreneurship and venture capital resources available on campus, covering academic programs, courses, and experiential learning opportunities.

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Hobbies

Played baseball for The Johns Hopkins University, serving as an outfielder for the team. hopkinssports

Notes

AKAndre Kirbysaid that if they were launching a new (and unproven) startup,
ZJZach Jaffe
would be high on their list of ideal first investors.

Aug 7, 2025