Sponsored by
Gary Schneider
He helps boards, finance committees, and staff develop investment policy statements, design values-aligned portfolios, review asset allocation, monitor managers, and understand investment decisions in clear, practical terms. His work includes nonprofit reserves, endowments, donor-advised funds, ESG screening, and board-ready reporting. Gary brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management and financial planning, including prior service as Senior Vice President, Investments at Aegis Capital Corp. He holds Series 7, 65, 63, and Life and Health Insurance licenses, is a Certified Financial Planner professional, and is a Level 2 Chartered Financial Analyst candidate. Gary earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Sydney Thomas
improve life for the 99%. Her investment approach sits at the intersection of health, wealth, and climate resilience, backing founders building essential systems that are more equitable, adaptive, and durable. Sydney brings over a decade of experience in early-stage venture, blending a background in public policy (Duke University) with institutional fund-building expertise (UC Berkeley Haas). In 2023, she launched Symphonic Capital and raised $13.5M for Fund I, a milestone first close reflecting strong conviction from LPs aligned with her thesis.
She is a proven pre-seed firm builder. Previously, Sydney helped scale a Silicon Valley fund from a solo GP to a $200M+ platform with 400+ portfolio companies. She has applied the same rigor and operational discipline to growing Symphonic’s portfolio and ecosystem.
Beyond investing, Sydney has spent years building community around her thesis—through founder storytelling, published insights, and convenings that bring together operators, investors, and advocates committed to equitable systems change.
Sydney is a Kauffman Fellow and a nationally recognized voice in venture. She created the Black Women in VC list and serves on boards and advisory committees including Acumen America, the Oakland Museum of California, the Alliance Healthcare Foundation, and Girl Scouts of America.
Jeanne Bell
Shétu Rose
Shétu Rose (she/her) is Chief Executive Officer at Diverge Finance Cooperative with over 20 years of financial management experience. Over the years she has led and supported administrative and strategic management teams for local and international organizations in the non-profit sector.
Prior to Diverge, Shétu was the VP of Finance and Operations at the Center for Economic Inclusion and the Director of Finance at AchieveMpls (now Achieve Twin Cities). She also has a wealth of international experience, having worked in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
She is a passionate advocate for equity and human rights and is committed to bringing about sustainable economic change for families and communities. She currently serves on the Board of Arise Community Credit Union and a founding board member of MUFEYA in Minnesota.
Curtis Klotz