A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jarrod Barnes currently serves as the Managing Director of the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute, a seed-stage impact investing fund that invests in minority founders across the midwest and southeast. Jarrod began his career working in collegiate and professional sports as a college football coach at the Ohio State University and as an NFL front-office employee with the Los Angeles Rams. 

Prior to joining the Rams, Jarrod was the Founder & CEO of Prime U, a learning and development platform for elite athletes and coaches, where he worked with over 10,000 athletes to measure and manage personal growth at scale. 

As a former athlete, Jarrod is active within the sports tech community, serving as a mentor with the leAD Sports Accelerator and the Athlete Development Lab. After transitioning into venture, Jarrod has continually sought out opportunities to create access to capital and education for underrepresented founders and is always looking to connect with diverse founders, community managers, VCs, and those looking to make a difference.