Alexa von Tobel, previously chief innovation officer for life insurance provider Northwestern Mutual, has formed an early-stage technology venture fund dubbed Inspired Capital.
Von Tobel, Inspired Capital’s managing partner, will join forces with Mark Batsiyan, a partner at Northwestern Mutual’s corporate venturing arm, NM Future Ventures, for just over two years, who has taken the same position at the new firm. Inspired Capital plans to raise $200m for its first fund, according to a securities filing.
NM Future Ventures has hired Souheil Badran, formerly president of Americas for e-commerce group Alibaba’s financial services affiliate, Ant Financial, to take over Von Tobel’s duties. He will also assume an executive vice-president role.
John Schlifske, Northwestern Mutual’s chairman, president and CEO, said: “I want to thank Alexa for helping us think bigger and expand our lens on innovation and our digital experience work. We plan to continue working together in business ventures as she takes this next step that she’s chosen to pursue in the innovation space.
“We look forward to having Souheil join our senior leadership team – his experience and track record make him the perfect successor for our top innovation role.”
Von Tobel founded financial planning platform LearnVest in 2008 as CEO. Northwestern Mutual acquired LearnVest in 2015 as part of a deal in which she was appointed chief digital office and chief innovation officer for the corporate as well as head of NM Future Ventures’ investment committee.
Von Tobel said: “I could not be more proud of the work we have done together over the last four years of merging LearnVest and Northwestern Mutual and the work we will continue to do together in the future. I love this great company, the amazing people who work here, and everything our mission stands for.
“I feel deeply honoured to have been a part of that important work for people across America, and I’m thrilled for this next chapter and excited to hand the torch to Souheil.”
Photo of Alexa von Tobel courtesy of Twitter.
