A Day in the Life with Henri Pierre-Jacques
by Harlem Capital
If you have ever met Henri Pierre-Jacques, Harlem Capital’s Managing Partner, you know he runs Harlem Capital with the same energy he brings to the rest of his life: intentionality, consistency, and full of purpose.
He started the firm with friends Jarrid Tingle and Brandon Bryant in a small Harlem apartment, and today it has grown into one of the most recognizable early stage funds backing overlooked founders across the country.
What people connect with most is not the resume. It’s how open he is about the real life behind the work, where he talks about faith, fatherhood, marriage, fitness, and the journey of building Harlem Capital.
A big part of what shapes Henri’s days is something he calls the 5Fs. These are faith, family, friends, finances, and fitness. It is not just a framework, but the system he uses for daily habits and long term planning. He and his wife set goals for each pillar every year and keep the previous year’s list taped to the inside of their closet door so they see it every day. The 5Fs guides how he makes decisions, protects his time, and designs his routines.
You can see the 5Fs clearly in how he moves through his day. Mornings always start with family, after that, the focus shifts to fitness. He avoids calls before 11 AM so he can get mentally organized for the day ahead. Once he shifts into work mode, the structure becomes steady and very full. This is what Henri’s typical day looks like:
- 7:30 AM: Wake up and time with his son
- 8:00 to 10:00 AM: School drop off and sports (padel, tennis, or basketball)
- Late morning: Reset time with no calls before 11 AM
- 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM: Work blocks
- Monday: internal meetings and planning
- Tuesday to Thursday: heavy external calls, usually six to seven hours
- Friday: call free deep work
- Evenings: Family time
- 9:00 PM to 12:30 or 1:00 AM: Deep work, including memos, strategy, and email
This routine gives him clarity. Fitness keeps him grounded, family time keeps him balanced, and nighttime deep work gives him quiet space to think and to make decisions without interruptions.
His week follows a similar structure. Each category of work has a clear purpose, and the numbers reflect how he splits his time during a typical week when the firm is not fundraising.
1. Founder and Portfolio Company – 40%
This includes intro calls, CEO check ins, strategic support, and board related work. It is the part of the week where he spends the most time because supporting founders directly is central to how Harlem Capital operates.
2. Firm Building and Operations – 25%
This covers hiring, culture, systems, internal communication, and preparation for future fundraising. These are the behind the scenes efforts that keep the firm running smoothly and sustainably.
3. Brand and Community – 15%
This includes creating content for X and LinkedIn, attending events, hosting dinners, and staying visible in the ecosystem. Henri believes consistency in brand and community building helps both founders and the firm long term.
4. Ecosystem and LPs – 10%
This portion of the week goes to LP conversations, meetings with other GPs, and broader industry touchpoints. These relationships help Harlem Capital stay informed, connected, and aligned with the larger venture community.
5. Reflection and Planning – 10%
This is dedicated time for long term thinking, personal goal setting, and reviewing priorities with his wife. It often overlaps with his late night work window when he has the most uninterrupted space to think clearly.
A detail that surprises many people is how selective he is with first meetings. Even with roughly 15 hours of calls each week, only three to five hours go to founders he has not met before. Henri believes that depth matters more than volume, which allows him to give founders the attention they deserve and to focus on building stronger relationships that create real impact over time.
When you look at everything together, the pattern becomes clear: The 5Fs shape the vision, the daily routine protects his energy, and the weekly rhythm keeps Harlem Capital running with structure and intention. His days are full, but they never feel scattered. They are grounded in what matters most and in the mindset that aligns with Harlem Capital’s belief that winners are built through purpose, consistency, and community.
To keep up with Henri’s latest insights and updates, you can follow him on Linkedin and X.
About Harlem Capital
Harlem Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm on a mission to invest in 1,000 diverse founders over the next 20 years. The firm partners with visionary entrepreneurs building transformative businesses across enterprise software, fintech, and AI. All Winners Welcome.
