Zeal Capital Partners has promoted Stefanie Thomas-Martin to Partner, marking a significant milestone in her career and reinforcing the firm’s commitment to inclusive venture capital.
Thomas-Martin, who previously served as Managing Director, will now work alongside Zeal’s Founder and Managing Partner, Nasir Qadree, to execute the firm’s investment strategy and serve on its Investment Committee.
In her expanded role, Thomas-Martin will continue leading the Barclays Black Formation Investment (BBFI) initiative, a $50 million pre-seed investment platform backed by Barclays. The BBFI focuses on supporting diverse-led, high-growth technology startups across the United States and the United Kingdom. She also spearheaded Zeal’s first scout program, designed to mentor and cultivate the next generation of diverse venture capitalists.
Thomas-Martin has also assumed a board position at Stratyfy, a fintech company leveraging artificial intelligence to promote fairness in credit risk, fraud detection, and compliance. Her leadership in Inclusive Investing™—a core philosophy at Zeal Capital Partners—has been instrumental in driving the firm’s mission to increase access to capital for historically underrepresented founders.
“Stefanie’s promotion to Partner is a testament to her exceptional leadership, investment acumen, and unwavering commitment to our mission,” said Nasir Qadree. “Her expertise and vision will be key as we continue building a next-generation investment platform that drives innovation and impact across fintech, healthcare, and workforce development.”
Prior to joining Zeal in 2023, Thomas-Martin was a founding member and investor at Impact America Fund (IAF). She also co-founded Women Who Launch, an entrepreneurship platform dedicated to supporting aspiring women founders. Before her venture capital career, she worked as Vice President in Citigroup’s global banking division. She holds an M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Zeal Capital Partners, headquartered in Washington, D.C., focuses on investing in early-stage, tech-enabled businesses that drive economic mobility. The firm prioritizes financial technology, health equity, and the future of learning and work.
