We walk the walk
As an exited-operator-led firm, we don’t just talk the talk.
Our Beliefs
Support
Every entrepreneur deserves guidance and support along their journey. As they say, it takes a village.
We know from experience that knowledgeable and trustworthy thinkers and doers can help you navigate the next stage of your organization’s growth, from the big picture down to the nuts and bolts.
Inclusivity
More diverse leadership brings forth more transformative and successful financial and impact outcomes.
The research tells us why we should invest time and resources in diverse leaders and teams, but still, sometimes we have to help founders create their seats at the leadership table. By investing in you, we are increasing the odds to achieve a successful return on investment and on impact.
Partnership
Solutions created in partnership with impacted communities are most likely to be a win-win.
We're helping founders connect with and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those they serve. By staying close to the customer, you create solutions of irreplaceable value.
Leadership
The work to build a successful company is never done. Always reach for the brass ring!
It is important to pause and celebrate the wins. It is also critical to move fast and remember that perfect is the enemy of good. Successful leaders and organizations are continuously improving, setting a new goal once one is achieved. We think deeply with you and your team to make sure we’re removing roadblocks to help you along the path, which is never clearly defined.
Reach
Successful companies have a strong culture, and successful founders lead by example.
Startup leaders are often moving fast, pushing hard, and may miss the important step of building a strong work culture. We know how important coaching is on how to cultivate a workplace where people feel seen, heard, trusted, and valued. Talent acquisition is step one, but retention relies on the strength of your culture.
Our Leadership
& Managing Partner
Miriam Altman-Reyes is an experienced operator with more than 15 years of experience in the education and workforce, social enterprise, and technology sectors. She led her prior edtech company from idea through its 2022 exit to a public company, PowerSchool. Miriam draws upon her varied experiences, as an educator, founder and operator, corporate go-to-market executive, and investor, to support startup leaders. Her expertise is in business strategy and execution, including internal and external executive communications, go-to-market, fundraising, financial management, board relations, and human capital development.
& Investment Partner
Sumit is a highly accomplished executive with a strong background in leading cross-functional teams and driving growth and profitability within VC and PE-backed companies and firms. Sumit has effectively managed financial, operational, legal, and M&A functions. His successful track record includes guiding organizations from early-stage to post-IPO companies, with notable achievements such as overseeing an exit to PowerSchool (NASDAQ: PWSC). Drawing on his experience on both sides of the table as an investor and operator, Sumit works with founders to align their financial and business goals with a strategic lens into their long term vision while taking into account company execution.
Our Team
John Boyle has been a part of mission-driven organizations for the last two decades. His career has been anchored in education management, expanding access and opening doors to impact outcomes through advocacy, business development, and strategic partnerships. His expertise lies in sales and growth related activities with his most recent exit to a public company. John is an active board member and advisor for a number of mission-driven organizations including startups, non-profits, colleges and the Rockefellers most recently.
Brand
Runy Pswarayi has over 20 years of experience fueling edtech start-ups, nonprofits, and government agencies through the power of design. Specializing in user-focused design and driven by user behavior and aesthetics, Runy blends a collaborative spirit and ability to translate complex concepts into accessible design solutions. His work combines digital and traditional media to create brand experiences that resonate with audiences to drive engagement.
Marketing & Communications
Marketing & Communications
Margo Reynolds has over 20 years of experience in K-12 education. She has led digital engagement and community outreach strategies for several of the nation's top nonprofits and edtech companies focused on curriculum, school leader training, professional development, health activism, and social justice. Margo builds brands from the ground up by working across disciplines including strategy, positioning, thought leadership, creative, marketing, communications, program, partnerships, development, and external relations. She brings these skills to portfolio companies by designing and developing marketing strategies that inspire action.
Joël draws upon 20 years of expertise spanning startup to corporate environments across the tech, finance, and retail industries. For most of his career he has focused on driving market entry and expansion into the US from abroad. Most recently, he served as Head of US Operations for a growth-stage startup for which he initiated and drove US go-to-market strategy and execution. Prior to this, he was SVP of Global Operations for a public company where he managed day-to-day operations and oversaw the integration of twelve acquisitions. Drawing upon these experiences, and utilizing his fluency in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and Italian, Joël supports global founders and teams, helping them to prepare for and to execute successful transitions into the US market.
Matt is a seasoned technologist with nearly 30 years of experience, including 20 years in education technology, with much of his time spent working in-house or mentoring early-stage companies. Most recently serving as CTO of engage2learn, previously, Matt was VP of Engineering at Kinvolved through the company’s 2022 acquisition by PowerSchool. Earlier in his career, he was the first technical hire at SchoolNet, serving as Head of Technology for ten years through the company’s acquisition by Pearson, where he was VP of Systems Architecture. Matt supports founders in developing their technology roadmaps, including the incorporation of AI for internal and external use, and evaluating and hiring technical talent.
Our Associates
Project Management and Operations Associate
With a background in strategic partnerships and marketing across diverse industries, Lauren plays an important role in streamlining processes, developing and executing marketing strategies, and optimizing business functions to support the firm’s mission of empowering mission-driven founders and their ventures. She plays a similar role in supporting portfolio companies directly.
Miguel is a graphic and web designer specializing in low- no-code platforms. His passion for interaction design has led him to explore impact-led design solutions. With over 5 years in the startup ecosystem, he has worked across various sectors. As a web and graphic designer at African Leadership University, he has further honed his skills in creating impactful digital solutions for education. His diverse experience allows him to bring innovative solutions to each project.
In his eight years working in the NYC DOE, Dawit managed numerous high profile technology implementation projects, including $1.5MM ShopDOE (NYCDOE's procurement portal), the FAMIS budget portal, and the Technical Learning Solutions (TLS) Program, a $6MM Educational Software Procurement Project. He supports BRV's companies in navigating the complex NYC DOE procurement system, assisting them getting approved to do business in a highly time- and cost-efficient manner.
Jillian Lubow is an edtech veteran with more than twenty years of experience supporting startups and nonprofits as they find their footing, craft their story, and win the critical early-stage deals that keep the lights on and establish credible market share.
She began her career at Wireless Generation (now Amplify), serving in business development, sales, and marketing roles. She then worked for edtech startups, namely in a dual sales/marketing leadership role at TeachBoost (acquired by SchoolStatus) and as a marketing leader at Kinvolved (acquired by PowerSchool).
Our Advisors
Jim is an edtech executive and investor with a 30-year track record of scaling, growing and transforming educational businesses. Jim has worked with classroom teachers, school principals, and district leaders to support their curriculum, technology, assessment and professional development initiatives. He continues to be a trusted advisor to many district administrators as they work tirelessly to improve education, equity, and access in their communities. He previously served as Senior Vice President and President of Amplify Education, where he led the sales team through one of the largest growth cycles the company experienced. He currently serves as Senior Advisor, Education for Emerson Collective.
Martin Schneider was most recently Managing Partner at Fine Capital Partners, a hedge fund based in New York City and is the Chair of IDEO.org's Board of Directors. Marty is the Founder and former President of Health Pages, a consumer website devoted to providing consumers with background, experience, and quality information about health care providers. He currently serves as Chair of the Boards of Peer Health Exchange and Informed Patient Institute, and as Treasurer of the Boards of Consumer Reports and Populations Services International (PSI), and a partner at TSEF (The Social Entrepreneurs Fund).
Zach Silverstein is an investor and advisor with wide-ranging experience in leadership positions at mission-driven organizations in the public, private, government, and not-for-profit sectors. Z Beach Strategies, his consulting business, works with C-Level leaders on issues of strategy, management, operations, and board governance. He also invests in and manages a portfolio of startup and early stage companies, primarily in the education and sustainability sectors. Zach holds a J.D., cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale College.
Practitioner Advisory Board
Boston Public Schools
Mt. Diablo Unified School District
Millard Public Schools
Tech Reformers (Former CIO, Seattle Public Schools, CTO, Oakland Unified School District)
The Baldwin School
Metropolitan RESA
Issaquah School District
NYC DOE (HS District 15)
A Message from Our Founder
As an exited edtech founder and CEO, I know first-hand that running a startup is hard at every stage, and that that the smartest capital and support comes from those who’ve been there before.
This is why I launched Brass Ring Ventures — a firm that supports passionate, coachable founders with lived experience, who are building technology to increase economic mobility and prosperity for all.
With decades of experience across the sector, as founders, leaders, advisors to dozens of startups, and investors, we operate with the following beliefs:
- The time to invest in the future of learning and work is now. We are at a technological inflection point where new systems must rise to meet the massive, growing need for skills development, upskilling, and reskilling across all socioeconomic levels.
- Founders with insider, lived experience hold a distinct advantage. Their passion, deep customer connection, and unique insight are vital for building high-growth businesses and solving problems others can't even see.
- While business fundamentals are teachable, a growth mindset is not. Self-awareness, coachability, and a relentless desire for continuous improvement are the core traits of founders who are wired to "reach for the brass ring" and are positioned for lasting success.
We are excited to help build this new phase of the ecosystem alongside you.
Sincerely,
Miriam Altman-Reyes
Founding CEO & Managing Partner
Apply to our Portfolio
More questions? Reach out! info@brassring.vc