National Venture Capital Associations (NVCA)

The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow.

The role of VC professionals: Advocate alongside NVCA and other VC and startup experts for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Become a member of NVCA today.

Meet the NVCA and Venture Forward Teams

Bobby Franklin, President and CEO

Since 2013, Bobby Franklin has served as the proud President and CEO of NVCA – the National Venture Capital Association. Under his stewardship, NVCA has emerged as the preeminent voice of the U.S. startup ecosystem, advocating for public policies that foster innovation and drive economic growth. With a relentless commitment to supporting American entrepreneurs, Bobby has positioned NVCA as a driving force in shaping the landscape of venture capital.

In 2020, Bobby’s visionary leadership led to the public launch of Venture Forward, NVCA’s connected organization dedicated to cultivating a strong, diverse, and inclusive venture community. Through innovative programs like VC University, Venture Forward has empowered over 4,000 aspiring and early-career VCs, many from historically underrepresented backgrounds, fueling the pipeline of talent in the industry.

Before his tenure at NVCA, Bobby honed his advocacy skills over a decade at CTIA – The Wireless Association. He was on the public policy frontlines for the dawn of smartphones and the launch of the app-based economy. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at Alltel, demonstrating his expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments.

Bobby’s journey began with a solid foundation in public service, spending seven years on Capitol Hill working for Senator David Pryor (D-AR). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance and Banking from the University of Arkansas.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bobby finds fulfillment in family life with his wife, Julia, and their three adult children.

As a leader, advocate, and mentor, Bobby continues to inspire others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and drive positive change in the world.

Christina Martin, Chief Operating Officer

Christina Martin brings years of strategic management, government affairs, and communications experience to NVCA. As Chief Operating Officer, she sets strategy and manages the government affairs, research, communications, and membership teams, ensuring alignment with the organization’s mission to champion the venture capital industry.

Christina’s career spans leadership roles across major industries. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs at the Internet Association. Previously, as Executive Vice President of the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), she successfully combined policy advocacy with communications strategy, delivering award-winning results. She also served as Executive Vice President of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

Earlier in her career, Christina was Senior Managing Director, Global Strategic Communications, at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and its predecessor, the Securities Industry Association (SIA), which the Wall Street Journal called “Wall Street’s leading trade group.” She was the first woman to serve on the management committee of both associations. She also held leadership positions at Powell Tate | Weber Shandwick and as Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA).

Christina began her career in politics, first in various communications roles in the White House followed by serving as a spokesperson and communications strategist for senior Republican leaders, including Speaker Newt Gingrich. Roll Call named her one of the 50 most powerful staffers on Capitol Hill. In addition, she worked for Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, and as Chief of Staff to a California Member of Congress. She is a veteran of three presidential campaigns and one winning gubernatorial race.

A graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in Economics. She completed Wharton’s Securities Industry Institute executive program. Christina also served as a Fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

Evan Keller, Director, Communications

Evan Keller serves as the Director of Communications at the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). He works on supporting NVCA’s legislative efforts through effective media relations, executive communications, and digital strategy.

Prior to joining NVCA in August 2024, Evan was a Director of Strategic Communications at Avoq, a bipartisan communications and advocacy firm, where he counseled founders, corporate executives, and trade association leaders on enhancing their reputations and brands. His clients spanned multiple industries, including climate tech, finance, and transportation.

Before Avoq, he served for five years on U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s communications team. As her Press Secretary, Evan served as her primary spokesperson and strengthened her national profile by delivering targeted media opportunities that emphasized her policy priorities and powerful life story. He also took two temporary leaves from the Senate to work on a frontline house campaign and a presidential campaign.

Evan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business with concentrations in strategy and entrepreneurship. He and his wife, Lorna, reside in Washington, D.C., with their dog, Gus.

Rhianon Anderson, Senior Programs Director, Venture Forward

Rhianon Anderson serves as the Senior Programs Director for Venture Forward, a nonprofit launched by NVCA to support the US venture capital ecosystem. She works on efforts to expand diversity, equity and inclusion, and to ensure that members of the VC community have access to the support and resources they need to thrive.

Before joining Venture Forward, Rhianon spent several years working on program operations for Girls Who Code, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in the tech sector. At Girls Who Code, she oversaw nationwide efforts to ensure high-quality program delivery, and to scale programs that served tens of thousands of students.

Previously, Rhianon served as the Director of the Congressional App Challenge, a bipartisan congressional initiative aimed at expanding STEM education opportunities across the country. As the program’s founding Director, she launched and oversaw the execution of more than 240 challenges in congressional districts across 33 states.

Rhianon received her Master’s in Public Policy from UC Los Angeles. She specialized in tech policy and spent a year researching economic development mechanisms to support the growth of LA’s startup community. During her time at UCLA, she also worked for the Luskin Center for Innovation, researching conditions faced by women and other underrepresented demographic groups within the tech community.

Robin Ceppos, Communications Manager

Robin serves as the Communications Manager at the National Venture Capital Association, where she enhances day-to-day external and internal relations for NVCA while utilizing her expertise in content creation, storytelling, and data to elevate NVCA’s long-term communications strategy. As a conscientious leader, Robin is integral to the forward-looking investments NVCA makes in the greater venture capital and startup communities.

Prior to joining NVCA, Robin served as Publicity Manger at the Brookings Institution where she cultivated relationships with and pitched new research to public-policy influencers, congressional staffers, and the media resulting in real impacts in public policy. Robin also served as the Public Relations Specialist at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP where she implemented new systems to accommodate the firm’s merger (including launching a joint intranet for 2,000+ staff) and inaugurated a tiered press plan to introduce the firm’s rebrand in new markets.

Robin earned a master’s degree in political management from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University.

Justin Cruz, Data Operations Manager, Venture Forward

Justin Cruz is the Data Operations Manager for Venture Forward. He is responsible for the data-related processes, systems, and infrastructure to support Venture Forward’s goals and objectives.

Prior to joining Venture Forward, Justin worked at Salesforce as a business operations and data analyst working on Industry Cloud and Partner Programs. He focused on developing platforms and data support. In his most recent role, Justin was doing business operations for the Salesforce Talent Alliance program, which is a mission-driven initiative aimed at cultivating a diverse workforce that mirrors our society. The program has supported over 23,000 new to ecosystem placements and partners with over 1,000 Salesforce consulting firms to develop their practice.

Justin is an alum of the Year Up program which is a non-profit workforce development organization providing career and higher education opportunities. He is currently in school working on his undergraduate degree.

Address: 200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 520, Washington, D.C. 20001, USA

Phone: +1 202 864 5920
FAX: +1 202 864 5930

Address: 221 Main Ave, Suite 520, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

For press inquiries please reach out to Evan Keller, Director of Communications:
Email: ekeller@nvca.org
Phone:+1 618 435 7267