Nationality American Spouse(s) Alice Parker Flint | Children 4 Name Jon Flint | |
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Full Name Jonathan Andrew Flint Born August 11, 1951 New York City, New York, USA Occupation Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Polaris Partners; Co-Founder and Chairman, Living Proof Residence Boston, Massachusetts, United States Alma mater Hobart and William Smith Colleges, University of Virginia School of Law | ||
Jonathan A. Flint is a venture capitalist and entrepreneur who co-founded the venture capital firm Polaris Partners and the beauty company Living Proof.
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Early career
Flint graduated with a BA from Hobart College and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. In 1971 Flint was the assistant director and an actor in John Landis’ first film Schlock. From 1974 to 1976, Flint was on the research team of the Impeachment Inquiry Staff of the House Judiciary Committee, working alongside Hillary Clinton, Lawrence Lucchino and William Weld and then served as a researcher under Richard Ben-Veniste on the Watergate Special Prosecution Force. Flint later worked as a litigator with Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, a venture capital law firm based in Boston. In 1984, he changed careers and became a venture capitalist at Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co. (BEDCO). Flint later became a partner of BEDCO and was instrumental in a series of successful software startups including a $105 million payback on a $3 million investment in Powersoft Corporation.
Polaris Partners
Along with Terry McGuire and Steve Arnold, Flint left BEDCO in 1996 and founded the venture capital firm Polaris Partners. Polaris has been a lead investor in life sciences companies: Alimera Sciences, Ascend Health, deCODE genetics, Free&Clear, Ironwood and Momenta; and technology companies: Akamai Technologies, Allaire Corporation, eRewards, Imprivata, LegalZoom, LogMeIn, SolidWorks, and WordPress; and the beauty company, Living Proof. Polaris closed on $500 million for its sixth fund in 2010. Flint currently serves as Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Polaris and sits on the board of directors of Athletes' Performance, JibJab, and is Chairman of Living Proof.
Living Proof
In 2005, Flint and Dr. Robert Langer started a company to apply polymer technologies often used in medical applications to beauty products. Polaris seed funded Living Proof with $1 million in initial funding. The company hired five scientists who had been working in cancer research and other medical areas but who had never worked in the beauty industry. The scientists' first invention was a polymer called OFPMA that is used on frizzy hair and they have since been awarded over 15 patents for a number of beauty products. The company closed $7 million in Series A financing with Polaris and other investors. The company raised $16 million in a Series B financing in March 2011. Flint stepped down as CEO in 2011 but remains Chairman of the company. Living Proof hair care products are sold at retailers such as Sephora and Ulta. In 2012, Jennifer Aniston became a co-owner and spokesperson for the company. Living Proof announced the closing of $30 million financing in 2013.