Shine Global Announces Jesse Draper as 2025 “Shining Example” Honoree

September 2, 2025 – Shine Global, the nonprofit media company dedicated to improving children’s lives through powerful storytelling, is proud to announce that venture capitalist and entrepreneur Jesse Draper will receive its 2025 Shining Example Award. Jesse Draper has directed a meaningful and growing amount of capital toward startups that support families, particularly through her firm Halogen Ventures. Since founding it in 2015, she has overseen three venture funds that invest in women-led consumer and family- focused businesses. Fund III ($30M), closed in June 2025, explicitly targets the “Future of Family” sector—including childcare, educational technology, family-tech, youth services, and household well-being.

Shine Global honors Jesse Draper for her groundbreaking work as an impact investor dedicated to supporting families through innovation, equity, and long-term vision. As the founder of Halogen Ventures, Jesse has championed women-led companies that are transforming industries crucial to family life—education, health, childcare, and financial well-being. Her investments reflect a deep commitment to systemic change, ensuring that solutions for families are inclusive, scalable, and sustainable. “We are thrilled to honor Jesse Draper as a Shining Example,” said Francile Mullen, Co-CEO and Executive Director of Shine Global. “Her work at the intersection of impact investment and social change mirrors our own mission in impact filmmaking to improve the lives of children and families around the world. Together, we show that when capital and creativity unite, we can spark meaningful, lasting change.”

Draper is the first solo female General Partner in Los Angeles, a fourth-generation venture capitalist, and a mother of three boys. She is also the creator and host of the Emmy®-nominated The Valley Girl Show and the host of the MOMumental podcast. Among her more than 75 portfolio companies are household names such as The Skimm, Babylist, ThirdLove, HopSkipDrive, The Flex Company, Eloquii (sold to Walmart), This is L (sold to P&G), and Squad (acquired by Twitter). Her advocacy for investing in women-led companies has earned her widespread recognition, including Inc.’s 2025 Female Founder List, Business Insider’s “Top 10 Early Stage Female Investors,” and Marie Claire’s “50 Most Connected Women in America.” She is also a Kauffman Fellow and a frequent contributor to national media outlets.

Jesse’s work extends beyond investment. She proudly serves on the boards of Trust & Will, Flex, Mirza, Maple and It’s Electric. She is a gender equality advocate and has also championed diversity in the venture capital industry through the creation of the Halogen Fellowship in Venture Capital. “I’m deeply humbled to be honored as a Shining Example at Shine Global’s 20th Anniversary Celebration,” said Draper. “For two decades, Shine Global has illuminated children’s stories from around the world, sparking awareness and action in ways that truly make a difference. I believe in the power of storytelling to unite us, and when for-profit and nonprofit communities work hand in hand for good, we can move mountains together.” The Shining Example Award will be presented at Shine Global’s 20th Anniversary Celebration in September, in recognition of Jesse Draper’s enduring commitment to empowering families and children through innovation and opportunity. To find out more and purchase tickets, please visit our event website: https://us.givergy.com/ShineGlobal2025/

About Shine Global

Shine Global is a nonprofit media company that improves the lives of children by telling powerful stories to raise awareness, promote action, and inspire change. We produce and support inspiring films and compelling content about underserved children. Through tailored distribution and outreach, we connect with our audiences in communities, classrooms, museums, and on Capitol Hill as part of a powerful engagement campaign to encourage social change.

Since our founding in 2005 by Susan MacLaury and Albie Hecht, Shine Global films have won more than 100 major awards, including an Academy Award® for Best Documentary Short Subject for Inocente, an Academy Award® nomination for Best Live Action Short for Anuja, and an Academy Award® nomination and two Emmys® for War/Dance. Recent films include the documentary-animation hybrid Liyana, the hit documentary The Eagle Huntress, Through Our Eyes: Homefront which is available on HBOMax, the Ariel Award winner Home Is Somewhere Else, and The Business of Trouble which is currently in film festivals.

ABOUT SHINE GLOBAL’S RESILIENCE AWARDS
This program recognizes and celebrates the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity. The awards are open to films of any genre that showcase children overcoming challenges, such as poverty, violence, illness, and discrimination, and demonstrate their resilience, courage, and determination.