Kelly Ford earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Michigan State University in 1994. Kelly is a member of the Spartan Founders Club and has been actively involved with the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation for many years, providing mentorship as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence, encouraging professional networking and as a mentor coach for the institute’s pitch competition, Burgess New Venture Challenge. Over the last 30 years, she has operated and invested in high-growth emerging and established technology companies. A technology optimist who has built her career on a passion for breaking new ground, Kelly has never held a role that someone held before her. Today, Kelly is a general partner at Edison Partners, investing in fintech and vertical software businesses located outside Silicon Valley, and overseeing firm operations.
“My career journey was shaped by father's 34-year career at Polaroid; big-company stability was our bread and butter. As such, my joining IBM shortly after college thrilled him. But, after five years, IBM started to feel familiar, flashing back to Dad's dinner table stories of bureaucracy and monotony. I had the itch to build new things and move faster. In 2000, I left Big Blue for my first startup (much to Dad's dismay) and never looked back.
As I reflect on my 20 years operating in entrepreneurial environments and 11 years backing technology entrepreneurs, my greatest lessons were from mistakes made when I was moving against what my gut was telling me. I've learned that when you have a gut feeling, it's important to trust it. Trusting, sharing and acting on your instincts not only leads to better decision-making, but also builds a culture of openness and trust, where others feel comfortable doing the same. The best lessons are those that apply to both leaders and followers. In that spirit, in addition to ‘follow your gut,’ I’d encourage Spartan entrepreneurs and innovators to focus on proving people right. Your co-founder and employees/contractors who chose to adopt your passion, make it their own, build with you; your first customers who took a chance on you; your suppliers/partners who share in your success. Without someone giving me shots along the way, I wouldn’t be the leader I am today.
The programming and resources the Burgess Institute offers for aspiring Spartan entrepreneurs is what inspired my establishment of a fund for student tech entrepreneurs. In 2021, I had the privilege of funding the Kelly A. Ford Technology Scholarship supporting students pursuing entrepreneurship opportunities in technology. This scholarship aims to empower the next generation of innovators by providing financial assistance, mentorship, and access to invaluable resources within the tech and entrepreneurial ecosystems. By investing in these students, I hope to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship that will drive progress, promote creativity, and equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to turn their ideas into successful ventures.
Further, I was thrilled about the opportunity to be one of the first members of the Spartan Founders Club (SFC). I am all-in on encouraging student entrepreneurship at Michigan State. SFC is another exciting opportunity to be part of a community with that shares this goal.”
The Spartan Founders Club (SFC) is a philanthropic consortium of MSU alumni and friends willing to stand together to support students and grow MSU’s campus-wide nationally ranked entrepreneurship education program. SFC members agree to an initial financial donation for three consecutive years as part of their commitment. If you're interested in joining or want to learn more, visit https://entrepreneurship.msu.edu/Spartan-Founders-Club.