Jarett Rodriguez

The Alternatives Foundation CEO

Jarett Rodriguez is the Founding CEO of the Alternatives Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to facilitating the donation of illiquid assets—such as private equity, closely held business interests, and alternative investments—to support higher education, research, and the arts. Under his leadership, the foundation has developed a peer-to-peer network of advisors and experts to guide donors through the complex process of contributing these types of assets, aiming to maximize philanthropic impact while providing tax advantages to donors.

With over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategic leadership, Rodriguez has held executive roles in both venture-backed and bootstrapped companies. Notably, he served as Chief Innovation Officer at a Louisiana-based company and was instrumental in developing a self-sustaining entrepreneurship institute at Louisiana State University, where he also collaborated with major sports organizations like the NFL and MLB.

Rodriguez holds a B.S. in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Louisiana Tech University, an MBA from Louisiana State University, and an M.Ed. in Physiology from the University of Louisiana Monroe . He has been recognized by the Austin Business Journal as one of the "2 People to Watch on Austin's Tech Scene," highlighting his influence in the intersection of technology and philanthropy.