The Treasure Hunter of VC: Everything You Need to Know on Jeffery Faustin

Introduction

“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 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 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: 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 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.

You’re going to be working with these people for a long time. If you’re not on the same page, it will show. I’ve learned that the hard way.

Questions about Diversity

David: Okay, amazing. Diversity is something I hear often. Many founders from underrepresented backgrounds feel they don’t have equal access to funding. How does your firm support diversity in who gets funded?

Jeffery: That’s a really good and layered question. Diversity shows up in many ways, not just race. Take unpaid internships, for example. If you only offer unpaid roles, you’re excluding people who can’t afford to work for free, usually those from lower-income backgrounds. That’s a form of discrimination we often miss.

When it comes to race, it’s true, there aren’t many people who look like me doing what I do. And that’s partly because the people I raise money from don’t look like me either.

So I make it a point to ensure that who we invest in isn’t based on what they look like. It’s not about ticking boxes, it’s about removing bias and focusing on talent and potential.

Jeffery: And to remove that bias, I think, because while talent is equally distributed, opportunity isn’t. That’s why we work to be consciously unbiased, which isn’t always easy. At our fund, diversity comes somewhat naturally because of who we are. I’m a Black man, and my business partner, Bob, is a woman. That in itself tends to attract more diverse founders.

Our numbers reflect that, about 41% of the opportunities we see have at least one female founder, and around 43% include at least one ethnic minority team member.

Personally, I try to speak at different events and join community groups, time permitting, to raise awareness, especially in underrepresented communities. I want people to know: this kind of funding is available, and here’s what it takes to access it.

Thoughts on Africa as a big topic on expansions for VC

David: Africa has been a big topic when it comes to expansion. How has your organization engaged with that conversation?

Jeffery: As a firm, we haven’t focused much on Africa, and that’s mainly because our fund is UK-domiciled. The companies we invest in have to be based in the UK, though many do have a global focus that includes Africa.

Personally, I’m from the Caribbean, so that’s the first ecosystem I’d want to support. But I absolutely see the value in Africa, it’s a massively underserved market with huge potential. It’s just not part of my current remit.

David: Okay, amazing. As a VC, how do you decide what industries and businesses that you decide to choose? How do you decide that?

Jeffery: We look for trends, whether it’s shifts in technology, regulation, or consumer behavior. That’s where we see real opportunities for disruption. A lot of those insights come directly from conversations with founders. Since they’re often at the cutting edge, we get early feedback from the market through them.

We pay close attention to those signals, especially from early adopters, and use that to guide where we focus and how we respond.

A piece of Advice for his Younger Self

David: All right, so what advice would you give your younger self, just starting out in life? And on the professional side, looking back now as a VC, what do you wish you had done differently or known earlier in your journey?

Jeffery: The most obvious advice I’d give myself is: start sooner. I actually considered doing an MBA about ten years before I finally did it, but I chose to go deeper into engineering instead. Looking back, I wish I had made the switch earlier.

I absolutely love what I do now, and starting earlier would’ve given me more time to grow, learn, and go further in this space.

Advice for Young people looking to venture into VC

David: As a young person who is wanting to become a VC, what steps should they take to become someone like you?

Jeffrey: Just start by joining as an intern to gain experience. You don’t need to enter at the top, venture capital has many layers, and people often think it’s one thing, but it’s really made up of different moving parts and stages.

Once you’ve had hands-on experience across those areas, you’ll begin to see which part of the VC world truly suits you. That exposure is key.

David: What lesson about money do you wish you’d learned earlier?

Jeffery: That’s easy, how to invest, and the value of ownership. Understanding how money can work for you, not just be earned and spent, would’ve made a huge difference early on.

Conclusion

David: Alright , thank you for joining us at Inside Success. Any last words of wisdom for us?

Jeffery: The truth is, you don’t know what you don’t know. So never assume something is beyond you or too big for you. Believe it’s possible, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

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