# Rowan Barnett

> Rowan Barnett is a grant investor at Google.org backing Drones, Big Data and Internet. See 2 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: Angel Investor
- Fund: [Google.org](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/google-org)
- Total investments: 2
- Last investment: Jun 2024
- Lead investor: 100%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/rowanbarnett
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/rowbar?lang=en
- Website: https://x.com/rowbar?lang=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rowan.barnett

Rowan Barnett is a Head of Google.org, Europe, Middle East & Africa at Google. He Attended University of Oxford.

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drones | 1 | 50% |
| Big Data | 1 | 50% |
| Internet | 1 | 50% |
| Politics | 1 | 50% |
| Government | 1 | 50% |

8 industries tracked in total.

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | 1 | 50% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | 50% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Apolitical | Apolitical is a global learning platform for government, helping government transform itself by connecting public servants to the latest and best ideas, skills, and partners. Its mission is to accelerate the transformation of government. Apolitical is used by tens of thousands of public servants in 170 countries, from mayors and ministers tomillennial digital innovators. It was named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in the World in 2018. | $5M | Grant | Jun 18, 2024 |  |
| Saildrone | Saildrone is a maritime defense and oceanographic survey company that enables navies, governments, and commercial organizations to obtain the real-time, accurate data required to monitor the maritime domain. Powered primarily by renewable wind and solar energy, the company operates a fleet of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) capable of conductinglong-duration missions that span several months. These autonomous vessels are equipped with advanced sensors and proprietary AI algorithms, allowing them to deliver a comprehensive view of the maritime environment both above and below the surface. Their technology supports various applications, including border protection, critical infrastructure monitoring, and hydrographic surveying. By harnessing sustainable energy sources, the USVs offer a persistent maritime presence without requiring human crews or fossil fuels. The integration of AI enhances real-time data analysis, making these systems both efficient and cost-effective. This innovative approach positions the company at the forefront of autonomous maritime surveillance and environmental monitoring. | $1M | Grant | Apr 13, 2021 |  |

2 of 2 investments shown.

## About Google.org

VC Fund · Mountain View, United States

Google.org is a platform that pulls together Google's philanthropic efforts. Google.org funds teams with big ideas that have a long-term global impact.

5 contacts available at Google.org.

| Name | Title | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Jen Carter | Product Manager & Head of Technical Team | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jen-carter |
| Justin Steele | Director | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/justin-steele |
| Nick Cain | Sustainability and Climate Lead, Google.org | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/nick-cain |
| Rowan Barnett | Head of Google.org, Europe, Middle East & Africa | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/rowan-barnett |
| Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink | Principal | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/brigitte-hoyer-gosselink |

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## FAQ

### What does Rowan Barnett invest in?

Rowan Barnett invests primarily in Drones, Big Data and Internet startups, most often at Grant stage. Most of the 2 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Rowan Barnett last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Rowan Barnett closed in Jun 2024. Shizune tracks 2 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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