Jennifer Ehlen

Jennifer Ehlen is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and early-stage capital leader dedicated to advancing women-led companies and founder ecosystems. She is the Founder and Managing Partner of JDE Capital, a woman-led investment firm focused on supporting and acquiring growth-oriented businesses.

Prior to JDE Capital, Jennifer founded and led Brazen Global (formerly BGI), a platform that builds connected peer advisory communities for executives, and Prosper Women Entrepreneurs, an organization and accelerator designed to increase women’s access to capital, mentoring, and growth resources. She also served as a Director at Thompson Street Capital Partners, where she worked with senior leadership to source and evaluate investment opportunities for the St. Louis-based private equity firm.

Jennifer is an angel investor and supports the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a mentor, coach, and advisor to founders from pre-revenue to high-growth stages. She has served on boards including HOBY Missouri and maintains active roles in regional and national investment networks, including Portfolia and Golden Seeds.

A passionate champion of intersectional feminism in business, Jennifer frequently speaks at universities and industry events on topics related to women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and capital access. She holds an MBA from Saint Louis University and a BSBA in Management & Organizational Behavior from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.