Benjamin D. Stone

As a former founder, CEO, COO, general counsel, litigator and marketing director, Ben brings unique experience and perspective to his legal practice. Ben helps entrepreneurs, executives, investors, funds and companies in a variety of industries—including clean energy and technology—grow profitable businesses and make a positive impact on the world. Ben has closed hundreds of millions of dollars of venture capital financings and acquisitions and serves as outside general counsel to numerous start-ups.

Prior to joining Mintz in 2017, Ben served as Managing Director & General Counsel of MCE Social Capital, an investment firm that finances businesses concentrating on clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and financial inclusion in more than 35 countries across four continents. Prior to MCE Social Capital, Ben served as Director of Start-Up Development at American Express, where he led a team creating initiatives to fuel high-growth entrepreneurship in the United States, with a focus on women-owned and minority-owned businesses. Prior to American Express, Ben helped launch and build Indego Africa, a lifestyle brand and social venture that provides thousands of female entrepreneurs in Rwanda and Ghana with access to global markets and business education. In 2010, Harvard Business School published a case study about Indego Africa and Ben’s leadership as COO & General Counsel and then CEO. Ben started his career in 2004 as a litigation attorney with an international law firm in New York City, where he represented corporations and individuals in major business disputes and government investigations.

Ben has contributed to the public dialogue about entrepreneurship, innovation and impact through more than 150 speaking engagements at a variety of venues, including Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Innovation Labs, the US State Department, the United Nations, the National Press Club, the US Chamber of Commerce, NYU School of Law, Columbia School of Law, American Express, and Goldman Sachs. He has been quoted or profiled in dozens of media outlets, from the New York Times to TechCrunch, and regularly writes essays and articles for a variety of publications, including VC Experts. Select thought leadership:

• Mintz Attorney Ben Stone Interviewed by Award-Winning Author and Professor, Profiled in Forbes, Mintz Press Release (June 25, 2019)
• What Are My Exit Options as a Public Benefit Corporation?, VC Experts (Oct. 12, 2020)
• Can I Raise Venture Capital as a Public Benefit Corporation?, VC Experts (March 25, 2019)
• Stakeholders’ Desire for Sustainability Presents Opportunities and Challenges for Boards, National Association of Corporate Directors (Aug. 9, 2018)

In 2016, Ben was recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel—a global legal association representing more than 40,000 in-house counsel employed by over 10,000 organizations in 85 countries—as a "Top Ten 30-Something." This annual award recognizes "in-house counsel rising stars for their innovation, global perspectives, proactive practice, advocacy efforts, and pro bono and community service work."

From 2012 to 2017, Ben served as a Term Member on the Council on Foreign Relations, a highly selective five-year membership for young leaders to engage in a sustained conversation on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy with experts through briefings, workshops, roundtables, and trips.

In addition to his law and undergraduate degrees, in 2010 Ben completed the Executive Program in Social Entrepreneurship at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

• New York University School of Law (JD)
• Washington University in St. Louis (BA)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business (EPSE)

• Association of Corporate Counsel: Top 10 30-Something (2016)
• Diplomatic Courier Magazine: Top 99 Under 33 Foreign Policy Leaders (2011)
• The Global Leaders: Future Global Leader Award (2011)

• Judge, New Venture Competition, Harvard Business School (2016 to Present)
• Venture Partner, NextGen Venture Partners (Nov. 2018 to Present)
• Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations (June 2012 to June 2017)
• Vice Chair of Board of Directors, Indego Africa (Sept. 2012 to June 2017)
• Co-Founder, Dollar a Day, Inc. (Oct. 2014 to Oct. 2016)