Venture Associate - Healthcare or Life Sciences

About the role

The Venture Associate plays a key role in the organization and broader venture ecosystem by supporting the full venture investment lifecycle and serving as a strategic resource for early-stage healthcare companies. In alignment with the MSU Research Foundation's growth strategy in healthcare and life science investing, the Venture Associate supports investment activities across the Foundation's venture funds, including Red Cedar Ventures, Michigan Rise, and the Henry Ford Health + MSU Innovation Fund.

Responsibilities

• Identify high-potential startups, evaluating commercial viability, and conducting scientific, technical, business, and legal due diligence
• Present investment opportunities to management
• Provide portfolio support and contribute to startup sourcing efforts
• Support other strategic initiatives across the MSU Research Foundation
• Analyze materials provided by startups in the investment pipeline and procured through independent research and due diligence, including pitch decks, scientific and clinical literature, pre-clinical and clinical data, market reports, and patents
• Conduct diligence conversations with founders, investors, and subject matter experts; source and facilitate meetings with upstream and downstream investors and subject matter experts including researchers and clinicians
• Prepare written assessments of investment opportunities and present them on a weekly basis to the healthcare investment team
• Prepare investment decision theses for opportunities that advance to later stages of due diligence and present to the broader investment team and Executive Director of Ventures
• Manage investment pipeline from initial screening through investment using the technology platform; document progress of due diligence items and proactively manage next steps
• Manage pipeline of inbound leads from entrepreneurs, other MSU Research Foundation subsidiaries, and ecosystem partners
• Generate outbound opportunities through industry research, conferences, and networking
• Assist with regularly scheduled portfolio company update meetings, gathering key performance metrics, and tracking data in the technology platform
• Provide support to portfolio companies on specific projects when needed
• Drive value to portfolio companies by working with management teams to unlock access to capital, customers, talent, and strategic insights

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to distill complex scientific and clinical concepts and data into actionable information
• Knowledge of the medical device/diagnostics and therapeutics product development process
• Knowledge of FDA regulations, reimbursement and healthcare economics, clinical workflows, and health system operations
• Ability to review, understand, and summarize peer-reviewed scientific and clinical literature
• Scientific and clinical acumen sufficient for quickly understanding disease processes, standard of care treatments, analyzing pre-clinical and clinical data, and competitive landscapes
• Exceptional written communication skills, with emphasis on analytical and technical writing
• Ability to work independently and with confidence to take initiative and be proactive
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive data
• Basic understanding of venture capital and investment instruments
• Proficiency in analyzing financial statements

Experience and Education

• Advanced Degree in life science or healthcare-related field required; PhD preferred
• Minimum of one year of experience in an operational role at a life science or healthcare-related start-up or mid-sized company; or experience in a clinic-adjacent role or within an innovation/venture function in a healthcare setting
• One year of early-stage startup or investing experience or venture investing education such as "VC University" or equivalent