Current Speakers

Earnest Sweat is a Venture Partner at GreatPoint Ventures. Since joining in 2019, his focus has been on investing in ‘value chaintech’ – startups improving productivity and the delivery of digital and physical assets. These software companies are improving high tech problems. One of the greatest needs over the next decade will be how software technology can improve efficiency, reduce costs, or enhance the value it provides to customers particularly for real estate, retail/ ecommerce, and supply chain industries. 

Over his 5+ years in the industry, Earnest has invested in 13 companies of which three have become unicorns including Flexport ($8B), Inxeption ($3B) and Flexe ($1B). His entire portfolio has grown to a combined more than $13 billion in enterprise value and have increased on average 8.6x in post-money valuation, with six companies growing more than 10x.  

Earnest is active in the community, serving as a board emeritus of BLCK VC and a Kauffman Fellow. He is a graduate of Columbia University and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

He has been designated as a VC Rising Star by organizations such as VC Journal and the Emerging Venture Capital Association. Earnest is a frequent speaker and a regular contributor to tech and venture capital topics discussing the importance of resilient systems and the innovations needed to keep legacy industries accelerating forward.