Jon Bassett
Managing Partner at NextGen Venture Partners
Carlsbad, California
Overview
Work Experience
Managing Partner
2015 - Current
NGVP is an early-stage, generalist venture fund investing $500k–$2M in Pre-Seed and Seed rounds. Backed by our VPEngine, a network of 1,600+ Venture Partners in decision-making roles, NGVP was founded on the principle that capital is a commodity, but connections are currency. Our mission is to build the crucial early relationships that help founders go from 0 to 1. With a team bringing diverse experience across early- to growth-stage tech, public and private market investing, and Fortune 50 companies, we offer more than capital—we provide partnership. Our portfolio includes Mercury, SmithRx, Carta, Everlywell, Maven Clinic, Dusty Robotics, Settle, Trace, Quantum Metric and more. Let’s connect and explore how we can work together!
NextGen Venture Partners invests in seed-stage companies with the participation of their venture partners.
Ventures Committee Advisor
2025
USTA Ventures was formed in 2023. The committee is focused on acquiring equity stakes in technologies and other companies that will help advance the USTA’s mission.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader.
Mentor
2014
The #1 startup accelerator in the world. We invest $118K in each company we fund through $18K in seed funding and an optional $100K convertible debt note. Techstars itself is backed by over 75 different venture capital firms and angel investors who are vested in their success. We also provide three months of intensive top-notch mentorship, incredible perks, and the chance to pitch to angel investors and venture capitalists at the end of the program. Our companies average over $1.4M in outside venture capital raised after leaving Techstars.
Techstars is an accelerator that provides pre-seed investment and mentoring for various early stage startups.
Raised $108,919,999.00 from SVB Financial Group and Foundry Group.
Board Member
2022 - 2024
Abett exists to create fierce consumers of healthcare. We envision a world in which everyone has access to high quality, affordable, and timely healthcare. Our mission is to deliver innovative solutions that bring transparency, competition, and accountability to the healthcare system. The Abett Lockbox is a secure "software-as-a-service" for benefits plan sponsors to take control of plan data.
Abett helps self-insured employers track and reduce healthcare expenditure.
Raised $18,100,000.00 from NextGen Venture Partners, GreatPoint Ventures, Royal Street Ventures and Acrew Capital.
Principal
2014 - 2015
Silverton partners works with exceptional entrepreneurs who are committed to attacking growth markets or disrupting traditional spaces with proprietary products or services. The firm's investment philosophy is centered on putting the entrepreneur first. We are the "go to" partner for our management teams, taking every opportunity to roll-up our sleeves and help with recruiting and strategy, as well as connections to other entrepreneurs, mentors and business partners. Example past investments include BlackLocus, Convio, Silicon Laboratories, Tivoli, VTEL and Waveset. We are typically the first institutional investor and the lead investor in the companies we back. Current example investments include Favor, Outbound Engine, PureWRX, Sparefoot, StepOne, TheZebra Trendkite, Turnkey Vacation Rentals and WP Engine.
DFJ Global Network
2012 - 2014
• Manage business and corporate development program to cultivate relationships on behalf of the Network with Fortune 100 companies. Track Network portfolio companies to assess potential inter-Network business opportunities. • Oversee operations of the DFJ Network. Design and oversee annual DFJ Network and CEO Summits (attended by over 200 general partners and CEOs), inaugural DFJ Network LP Summit (attended by 130 investors).
Draper Fisher Jurvetson is a venture capital firm.
Analyst
2011 - 2014
Focus on consumer internet and technology with an emphasis on the west coast outside of silicon valley. Responsible for deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio company management.
Instructor - BAEP 556: Technology Feasibility Analysis
2011 - 2013
BAEP 556: Technology Feasibility was featured in US News & World Report in February 2012 and won the 2012 Evan C. Thompson Innovation in Teaching and Learning Award. Over a period of 14 weeks, teams of graduate student entrepreneurs from business, science, and engineering discovered a compelling market pain, validated a customer, took a nine-part integrated business model through multiple pivots based on feedback from their field work, partnered or hired talent to support their proof of concept, and did physical demonstrations of the customer experience for investors.
Co-founder & Business Development
2009 - 2012
Farmscape is the largest urban farming venture in California. Our mission is to connect city dwellers with fresh, organic produce through a network of urban farms, while creating living wage jobs for the new generation of farmers. We area tackling the complex problem of urban food systems. We are currently located in the Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. www.farmscapegardens.com
Associate
2009 - 2010
Long/Short Equity Hedge Fund
Education
Bachelor of Arts
2004 - 2008