James Macon, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

James has spent his career as an operator, investor and advisor taking a hands-on approach to corporate and financial design, market analysis, partnership development, capital formation, team building, and exit strategy and execution. James co-founded Closed Loop Capital in 2010 following 13 years in venture operations, venture capital and financial services.

Before Closed Loop Capital, James was a venture strategy advisor for new enterprises and for foundations including Packard Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation, where he designed and launched new social enterprises in healthcare finance, sustainable fisheries, urban education and renewable energy. James was responsible for corporate financing initiatives, strategic planning and client acquisition at e2e Materials, a greentech bio-composite start-up founded on Cornell University research and technology. James led the 2009 corporate re-structuring efforts as a Board Member for the founding B Corporation, Comet Action Sports. In 2007 he was an Associate with the venture capital firm CEI Community Ventures where he focused on follow-on financing rounds and new fund design. During his five years at eSecLending, a global financial technology start-up, James focused on corporate marketing and strategy with particular emphasis on the sale of the business (sold to TA Associates in 2006). In 2000 he founded and managed a corporate venture wine importing business focused on specialty wines from Argentina, Italy and South Africa. James began his career in financial services at Eaton Vance Management where he ran a team servicing high net worth client accounts.

James earned a BA from Hamilton College with additional study at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.  He earned a MBA at the S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University where he focused on venture creation and financing, and led the venture capital fund BR Ventures.  As an alumnus dedicated to venture creation and development, James was recognized as a Jonas Weil Entrepreneur Fellow.  James has served on the Advisory Board and participated as a judge and mentor for LaunchVT, Vermont's statewide business pitch competition. He has also assisted early-stage agriculture and food ventures as a member of the Advisory Board and a mentor for the Village Capital Food & Agriculture U.S. accelerator program.