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Jules Pieri is a founding partner at XFactor Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in women-founded companies. She is also the co-founder and former CEO of The Grommet, an innovative online marketplace, and an author.
Jules Pieri invests in early-stage, women-founded companies through XFactor Ventures. Her investment focus often includes consumer goods, e-commerce, and technology sectors, particularly businesses with strong product visions and market potential.
Jules Pieri works as a founding partner at XFactor Ventures, a venture capital firm. She is based in the United States, contributing to the firm's mission of supporting women entrepreneurs.
Jules Pieri is an Investing Partner at XFactor Ventures and an Entrepreneur in Residence at Harvard Business School, based in Boston, Massachusetts. She previously co-founded and served as CEO of The Grommet, a product discovery platform that raised $24 million in venture capital, grew to 90 employees, and launched over 3,000 products before its acquisition by Ace Hardware in 2020. Earlier in her career, Pieri held senior executive positions at consumer brands including Keds, Stride Rite, and Playskool, and worked as Vice President at Design Continuum. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and later authored the 2019 book "How We Make Stuff Now." Her current focus centers on providing pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital to female-founded companies in the consumer products sector.
Jules Pieri stands as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, particularly recognized for her commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. As a founding partner at XFactor Ventures, she plays a pivotal role in identifying and funding promising startups led by women. XFactor Ventures is celebrated for its mission to bridge the funding gap for female founders, providing crucial early-stage capital and strategic guidance. Pieri's involvement ensures that these companies benefit from her extensive experience and deep understanding of product development and market strategy.
Before her impactful work at XFactor Ventures, Jules Pieri built a formidable career as an entrepreneur and innovator. She is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of The Grommet, an online marketplace dedicated to launching innovative consumer products. Under her leadership, The Grommet became a significant platform for discovering and bringing new products to market, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Ace Hardware. This entrepreneurial journey provided Pieri with invaluable insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a successful business from the ground up, knowledge she now leverages to mentor and invest in the next generation of founders.
Pieri's career background is rooted in industrial design and product development, a foundation that profoundly influences her investment philosophy. She spent over a decade at Continuum, a leading product design consultancy, where she honed her skills in creating user-centric and market-ready products. This hands-on experience in design and manufacturing gives her a unique lens through which to evaluate potential investments, particularly those in the consumer goods, e-commerce, and technology sectors. She looks for companies with strong product-market fit, innovative solutions, and scalable business models.
At XFactor Ventures, Jules Pieri's investment focus areas align with the firm's overarching mission: supporting women-led businesses across various industries. While specific notable investments are part of XFactor's broader portfolio, Pieri's influence is evident in the firm's commitment to companies that demonstrate strong potential for disruption and growth. Her expertise is particularly valuable for startups navigating product development, brand building, and market entry. She is also the author of "How We Make Stuff Now: Product Design + Business Thinking for a New Economy," further cementing her status as a thought leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. Jules Pieri's dedication to fostering a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem makes her a vital force in today's venture capital world.
