Introduction Featuring Jeffery Faustin
“You don’t know what you don’t know, so never assume something is too big for you.”
That line from Jeffery Faustin perfectly captures the spirit of this conversation. From his early days as a structural engineer in the Caribbean and Middle East to his role today as Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Jenson Ventures, Jeffery Faustin has carved an unconventional path through grit, curiosity, and a deep belief in potential, his and others’.
In this interview with the founder of Inside Success, David Sonowo, Jeffery Faustin opens up about his journey into venture capital, what it really takes to succeed in the industry, and why understanding people, not just numbers, is the smartest investment of all. For young people dreaming of a seat at the table, his story is proof that with the right mindset, no space is off-limits.
Get to Know Jeffrey Faustin
David: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Jeffery Faustin : Yeah, sure. I’m Jeffery Faustin, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Jenson Ventures, a venture capital fund. I’ve been in VC for 12 years now.
Before that, I was a structural engineer, trained and worked as a chartered engineer in the Caribbean, the UK, and the Middle East and people often ask me how I made the switch from engineering to venture capital.
David: Before I ask you that, I want you to describe yourself in three words.
Jeffery: Oh my gosh. Okay, I’d say treasure hunter, father and patient.
David: Okay, cool. You talked about, obviously, the beginning stages of yourself being an engineer. How did you get into that and what made you fall into that space?
Jeffery: It was the most common path laid out for me while growing up. In secondary school, the options were, you know, engineering, law, medicine, that sort of stuff. And engineering resonated with me more than the others, so I chose it.
The Switch from Engineering to VC
David: Okay, thanks for that background. So how did you make the jump from engineering into VC?
Jeffery: I was working as an engineer and had found my way to the Middle East, where my career progressed quickly. I’ve always looked for ways to grow, so I decided to do an MBA to build my commercial knowledge, since I already had strong technical experience. That’s when I discovered the world of venture capital. I didn’t know much about it before, but I instantly loved it.
One of the reasons I call myself a treasure hunter is because I enjoy finding value and spotting great deals. And to me, that’s what good VCs should be doing.
A day in the life as a VC
David: Okay. Amazing. So in the industry, what does a typical day look like for you as a VC?
Jeffery: What does a typical day look like? Honestly, there isn’t really a “typical” day. My work varies a lot. Some days I’m deep in pitch decks and financial models, reviewing forecasts. Other days I’m spending hours interviewing founders.
A typical week is probably a better way to frame it, because that’s where the rhythm becomes more consistent.
Jeffery: A lot of my time goes into understanding the companies we invest in, reviewing pitch decks, and talking to founders. I also engage with investors; we have to raise funds too, so keeping them updated with how well we’re performing helps build relationships.
Then there’s ecosystem work: judging pitch days, connecting with accelerators, and sourcing deal flow. And as Managing Partner, I handle board meetings and lead the team.
Jeffrey Faustin Best Investment and Biggest Lesson
David: Oh alright. What’s been your best investment? And what’s been your best lesson learned?.
Jeffery: Wow. Good question, We measure success purely by returns. Our best investment returned 13 times the original capital to our investors.
David: Oh, nice. What was the total?
Jeffery: We put in about 150,000, I think.
David: Okay.
Jeffery: Yes. And then we came up with 1.7 million. We got that from investors. So from a financial perspective, that was the best return. Now the best lesson?
Jeffery: The best lesson I’ve learned is about people. When you invest in a company, you’re really investing in a person or a group of people. And truly understanding them; their goals, their motivations, is so important before making that decision.
We often assume everyone wants the same thing. But at key points in the journey, you might realise they actually don’t. That’s why alignment matters from day one.
