Marcus Whitney is a college dropout who taught himself to code while waiting tables to support his family and became a venture capitalist, pro sports team owner, and Masters World Champion in Brazilian jiu jitsu. He created Jumpstart Nova after writing an open letter to Nashville healthcare leaders following the George Floyd protests, positioning himself as one of the few Black healthcare VC partners who leads rounds for overlooked founders while advocating for internet literacy education in schools.

• Deeply connected to the Nashville ecosystem and community, frequently expressing gratitude for the city he has called home for two decades. He publicly supports local civic services and first responders while championing the resilience of the local population during challenging times.
• Passionate about soccer with a specific focus on Nashville SC. He regularly shares real-time reactions to matches, praises specific players like Dax McCarty for their performance, and uses community hashtags to show his support for the club.
• Engaged in the intersection of technology and traditional industries, particularly manufacturing. He has pointed to entrepreneurs like Lloyd Armbrust as examples of how modern tech entrepreneurship can revolutionize the manufacturing sector.
• Active as a content creator and interviewer through his own live broadcast series. He highlights conversations with a wide variety of guests, ranging from doctors to marketing experts like Tamsen Webster, covering topics such as crafting irresistible ideas and finding success amidst distress.
• Focused on the mindset required for meaningful entrepreneurship and leadership. He reflects on the need for founders to have the courage to proceed without waiting for permission and cites late figures like Tony Hsieh as inspirations for their roles as culture change agents and civic leaders.
• Advocacy for the collaborative creative process and writing. He has spoken about the value of community-based writing groups where peers can help one another improve their craft and communicate more effectively.