Dr. Ebony Utley

Ebony A. Utley, Ph.D. is a professorpreneur. As a Professor of Communication Studies at California State University Long Beach she researches and teaches interpersonal communication with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Her areas of expertise include ideation, customer discovery, leadership, and persuasive storytelling.

As an entrepreneur, she translates her research into socially impactful technology, experiences, and services in the realms of edtech, wellness, domestic violence prevention, and storytelling for startups.

As an emerging investor, she is co-founder and managing director of the venture studio Ensemble Innovation, which subsidizes companies’ AI software development through revenue-based financing. Dr. Utley manages Ensemble’s portfolio and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, recommending, and structuring strategic investments.

Her blend of academic insight and entrepreneurial expertise offers invaluable guidance for early-stage founders committed to scaling ideas into capital-ready companies.