About
Dontae Rayford is a Southern California-based technology executive who is fervently dedicated to fostering and promoting new technologies, particularly those that can positively impact historically disadvantaged communities.
Presently, Rayford is engaged in several professional roles. He advises Black Operator Ventures, an Oakland, CA-based seed fund founded by Black tech entrepreneurs with the explicit aim of investing in Black enterprises. Additionally, he serves as a director of category management for Indeed, focusing on Food & Beverage and other high-priority sectors. He also shares his love for teaching as an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, frequently leading courses in the university's online MBA program.
Current Responsibilities
Rayford, a resident of Los Angeles, has been with Black Operator Ventures since 2022. Established in 2021, the venture has invested in seven enterprises, including WhoseYourLandlord, Inc., and Mayvenn. The firm offers financial support, business acumen, and vast network access to the founders it supports.
Rayford has been fulfilling his role in category management at Indeed since 2022, with a deep-rooted passion for how his work can contribute to job creation.
Rayford began his association with Southern New Hampshire University in 2018. He continues to relish advising startups and frequently publishes articles and speaks on various technology topics.
Previous Roles
Rayford's career history is vast and varied. He has worked for the State of California, addressing issues affecting working-class communities. He has also been part of Google, where he initially sold ads and later moved to business development, specializing in virtual reality and immersive capture technologies.
His experience extends to technology startups like the IoT connectivity platform IFTTT, YI Technology, and TuneIn. In 2019, Rayford was part of the business development team at Yahoo!/Verizon, which was restructuring after an acquisition. At Verizon and Yahoo!, he first served as a director, then later as a senior director of business development.
Community Service and Philanthropy
Rayford is fervently committed to giving back to the community. He currently does so as a board member of Soup, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to homeownership and affordable rental housing in the Bay Area. The organization's solutions to the housing crisis include the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (backyard homes), starter homes, and community land trusts. Rayford has been part of Soup's board since 2021.
Rayford also mentored Youth Business USA, an economic empowerment organization in Oakland, for three years. The organization aids youth in underserved communities to initiate and manage their businesses through interest-free loans, advice, and mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs.
He also contributes to other causes like Sweet Farm, an organization addressing the harmful impacts of factory farming, and Fonkoze, which is committed to breaking the poverty cycle in Haiti. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic's onset, Rayford partnered with several Black professionals in Los Angeles to raise funds to purchase over 20 laptops for LA students in need of devices for remote learning.
Education
Rayford earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in sociology from Stanford University in Palo Alto. In 2014, he completed an MBA in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial studies at the NYU Stern School of Business in New York City.
Early Life
Dontae Rayford grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Lynwood in Los Angeles County.
Hobbies
When he is not working, Rayford enjoys collecting art and immersing himself in music. He shows a keen interest in collecting the works of Black artists. He has also rekindled his childhood enthusiasm for collecting sports cards.
Accolades, Endorsements, and Awards
Rayford's diligence, leadership, passion, and skills in decision-making, negotiation, and business development have earned him numerous colleague endorsements. His former manager, Justin Wong, praises Rayford's genuine nature and representation of his company's values, expressing complete trust in his decision-making abilities. Alexander Tibbets, a colleague, believes every team and company Rayford contributes to will be enriched by his influential principles and leadership. Eliza Jones, another former manager, lauds Rayford's ability to navigate organizations, manage complex projects, and quickly close deals. A colleague, Richard Cox, commends Rayford's innovative ideas, hard work, and efficiency.
Presently, Rayford is engaged in several professional roles. He advises Black Operator Ventures, an Oakland, CA-based seed fund founded by Black tech entrepreneurs with the explicit aim of investing in Black enterprises. Additionally, he serves as a director of category management for Indeed, focusing on Food & Beverage and other high-priority sectors. He also shares his love for teaching as an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, frequently leading courses in the university's online MBA program.
Current Responsibilities
Rayford, a resident of Los Angeles, has been with Black Operator Ventures since 2022. Established in 2021, the venture has invested in seven enterprises, including WhoseYourLandlord, Inc., and Mayvenn. The firm offers financial support, business acumen, and vast network access to the founders it supports.
Rayford has been fulfilling his role in category management at Indeed since 2022, with a deep-rooted passion for how his work can contribute to job creation.
Rayford began his association with Southern New Hampshire University in 2018. He continues to relish advising startups and frequently publishes articles and speaks on various technology topics.
Previous Roles
Rayford's career history is vast and varied. He has worked for the State of California, addressing issues affecting working-class communities. He has also been part of Google, where he initially sold ads and later moved to business development, specializing in virtual reality and immersive capture technologies.
His experience extends to technology startups like the IoT connectivity platform IFTTT, YI Technology, and TuneIn. In 2019, Rayford was part of the business development team at Yahoo!/Verizon, which was restructuring after an acquisition. At Verizon and Yahoo!, he first served as a director, then later as a senior director of business development.
Community Service and Philanthropy
Rayford is fervently committed to giving back to the community. He currently does so as a board member of Soup, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to homeownership and affordable rental housing in the Bay Area. The organization's solutions to the housing crisis include the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units (backyard homes), starter homes, and community land trusts. Rayford has been part of Soup's board since 2021.
Rayford also mentored Youth Business USA, an economic empowerment organization in Oakland, for three years. The organization aids youth in underserved communities to initiate and manage their businesses through interest-free loans, advice, and mentoring from seasoned entrepreneurs.
He also contributes to other causes like Sweet Farm, an organization addressing the harmful impacts of factory farming, and Fonkoze, which is committed to breaking the poverty cycle in Haiti. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic's onset, Rayford partnered with several Black professionals in Los Angeles to raise funds to purchase over 20 laptops for LA students in need of devices for remote learning.
Education
Rayford earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in sociology from Stanford University in Palo Alto. In 2014, he completed an MBA in entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial studies at the NYU Stern School of Business in New York City.
Early Life
Dontae Rayford grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Lynwood in Los Angeles County.
Hobbies
When he is not working, Rayford enjoys collecting art and immersing himself in music. He shows a keen interest in collecting the works of Black artists. He has also rekindled his childhood enthusiasm for collecting sports cards.
Accolades, Endorsements, and Awards
Rayford's diligence, leadership, passion, and skills in decision-making, negotiation, and business development have earned him numerous colleague endorsements. His former manager, Justin Wong, praises Rayford's genuine nature and representation of his company's values, expressing complete trust in his decision-making abilities. Alexander Tibbets, a colleague, believes every team and company Rayford contributes to will be enriched by his influential principles and leadership. Eliza Jones, another former manager, lauds Rayford's ability to navigate organizations, manage complex projects, and quickly close deals. A colleague, Richard Cox, commends Rayford's innovative ideas, hard work, and efficiency.