Quick Facts
Biography
Javier Saade (born May 21, 1971) is an American investor, entrepreneur and ex policymaker. He was one of the highest-ranking Latino appointees in President Obama's administration, where he served as Associate Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Saade oversaw the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) and Growth Accelerator Fund programs which, collectively and since inception, have invested over $120 billion in 320,000 small companies. Saade was also appointed by Chair Mary Jo White to hold a seat on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies.
Career
Prior to public service, Saade spent 20 years in the private sector at organizations that include McKinsey & Company, Booz Allen Hamilton, Bridgewater Associates and Abbott Laboratories. He has co-founded several companies including Air America Media and served as Executive in Residence at Columbia University's Columbia Technology Ventures, Senior Fellow at Georgetown University's Beeck Center for Social Impact & Innovation and Mentor at Stanford University's Latino Leadership Entrepreneurship Initiative.
Saade grew up in San Juan and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS in Operations & Technology from Illinois Institute of Technology and a BS in Industrial Management and Manufacturing Engineering from Purdue University.
Post-Obama years
Saade is a Managing Director and General Partner at Fenway Summer Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in young companies innovating at the intersection of finance and technology, founded by Raj Date. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Organization of American States’ Pan American Development Foundation and as Mentor at Techstars in New York City and London. He also holds a seat on the Board of Advisors of Harvard University's Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.
Saade writes and speaks frequently on topics that include early stage investing, STEM-driven entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, diversity, impact capital, business acceleration ecosystems, social innovation, new economy policy and digital finance.
Political engagement
Saade has testified before Congress on topics that include federal R&D spending, entrepreneurial ecosystems and improving financial options for consumers with the use of technology. Along with other prominent American businesspeople, he signed an open letter opposing Donald Trump's candidacy for President of the United States, due to his immigration policy. They stated that "..his (Trump's) vision stands against the open exchange of ideas, free movement of people, and productive engagement with the outside world that is critical to our economy."