Announcing Phil’s Promotion to Partner

Published

By The NMV Team

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New Media Ventures is excited to share Phil Sanders’ promotion to Partner.

Since joining the New Media Ventures (NMV) team as Investment Principal two years ago, Phil has continuously demonstrated a deep passion and commitment to our portfolio companies, our investors, and our mission. His innovative approach to the work has enabled critical progress across the media, tech, and advocacy spaces.

"Phil is one of our most supportive and insightful investors. More than an investor, Phil is an ally, an advocate and has become a critical counsel for us as we've not only built and grown our business, but discovered who we are as founders. We're thrilled to see his leadership honored so that more founders (and investors) will benefit from his experience, wisdom and guidance as we work to collectively build a better world." - Ari Truijillo-John, Co-Founder of OpenField

In addition to evaluating hundreds of companies during his tenure at NMV, Phil has directly led investment into over 15 companies and nonprofits in progressive, mission-driven, and political spaces. Along with managing over 100+ companies in our portfolio, Phil has logged hundreds of hours of strategy support for founders, while catalyzing over $3 million of additional funding for portfolio founders.

“It has truly been an honor to work alongside Phil the past two years. In that time, Phil has played a key role in transforming NMV’s investment work, ensuring it is wholly and genuinely aligned with our vision of redistributing capital to shift power structures. In fact, 78% of our most recent investments have been in Black, Latine, and POC-led progressive startups. This achievement is due in no small part to Phil's commitment to equitably and inclusively advancing our mission.” – Jessica Salinas, NMV Chief Investment Officer

Prior to joining New Media Ventures as Investment Principal, Phil served as a Fellow at Kapor Capital and as Investment Accounting Manager at the Kapor Center, and in a variety of capacities at Ernst & Young and Rockwood Capital, managing financial duties for clients across technology, real estate, and venture capital. With nearly a decade’s worth of experience in investing, advising, and coaching impact ventures, Phil’s background spans climate tech, fintech, and future of work. In addition to having advised over 100 start companies, Phil has provided his services to clients including Momentum, Oakstop Ventures, and Artest Management Group. Outside of the office Phil continues to effect change, having served as Board Chair of the Ella Baker Center, a nonprofit organization working to turn the tide of criminalization, state violence, and mass incarceration today. Currently, Phil sits on the Board of Directors of MomentumX (climate tech Studio), a technology company building cutting edge products that enable extraordinary results.

As Partner, Phil will lead our for-profit investment work while also advancing the overall investments and grantmaking work of NMV’s impact fund. In addition to leading diligence on potential investments, he will provide significant support to our portfolio and increase deal-flow with Black and Brown founders. Phil will also spearhead new initiatives to support and scale early-stage startups working to expand progressive infrastructure, thereby growing our partnerships and portfolio of founders – and NMV’s impact.

“Beyond stellar investment acumen, what Phil brings to the table can’t be taught – authentic community engagement, deep orientation towards advancing social progress, and an unrelenting drive to help founders both scale thriving businesses and shape this world for the better. We need voices like his in leadership positions if we want to make real progress in building power for systems impacted communities.” – Carlissia Graham, NMV Acting President

By multiplying NMV’s impact and growing our network while simultaneously mobilizing our innovation and political funds, Phil will be instrumental in advancing NMV’s mission to find, support, and finance organizations that are telling new stories, building advocacy movements, and catalyzing civic engagement.