Devon Triplett
Devon Triplett is a researcher, founder, and investor based in Cambridge, MA. He is the Founder & Managing Partner of 021T Capital Management, LLC—a venture capital firm writing the first-check into highly ambitious founders building in $1T+ markets—and the Founder & Chairman of The 021T Institute, a research institute that curates data, insights, and reports to advance Cambridge–Boston through entrepreneurship.
Previously, Devon worked in Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs and in management consulting at McKinsey & Company. He has founded several companies and served as a Partner at Phoenix, a seed-stage venture firm backing leading Harvard-founded startups.
Research
View all2025 Harvard/MIT AI Unicorn Trends Report
As of September 2025, Harvard and MIT account for 26 AI unicorns valued at $124B on $12.6B raised. This report finds ~50% greater capital efficiency than non-AI peers (~15% capital intensity vs. 27.5%), an average of ~4 years (median 3) to reach $1B+, and an under-25/dropout cohort comprising 11 unicorns worth $79B. Included are data tables, the Top 50 companies, leading investors, the 021T Heat Index (hot sectors), superlatives, and 10 predictions, plus clear definitions and methodology.
Harvard's Unicorn Economy: Global Economic Impact of Harvard-Founded Unicorns (2005–2025)
Harvard's entrepreneurial ecosystem has produced 170 unicorns since 2005, creating ~$6.1T in public market value (~11% of the S&P 500) plus ~$490B in private value. These companies generate ~$560B in annual revenue, support ~3.37M jobs worldwide, and consistently add ~9 new unicorns per year, with ~32% ultimately exceeding $5B in valuation. It's hard to overstate Harvard's contribution to both the global economy and the health, wealth, and well-being of our society.
Thoughts
View allHarvard-MIT Data Briefing
We're living through a once-in-a-generation technology shift. Harvard–MIT founders are creating unprecedented value.
My Top 5 All-Time Books
I love to read. Here are the 5 books that I revisit annually.
In This New Paradigm, the First Check Is the Best Check
My mental model for institutionalizing first-check investing—and winning big.
Media
View allBoston's AI Supercluster: Harvard & MIT Powering Wave of Unicorns
Devon speaks at Imagination in Action @ MIT 2025 about how Boston, anchored by Harvard and MIT, has become the world's most productive AI supercluster.