Matt joined NEA in 2018 and is currently a Partner on the Healthcare team, focused on biopharma investments. Prior to NEA, Matt was a Principal at F-Prime Capital, where he was responsible for closing investments in multiple private biopharma companies. He has also held roles at Oliver Wyman, Robert W. Baird, and JP Morgan. Matt received a BA in biological sciences from the University of Chicago, an MD from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
You’re focused on biopharma investments. What interests you about this space?
Science and medicine are continually evolving. Today’s textbooks on these subjects look a lot different than when I was in school. I find it fascinating to be focused on a space that’s constantly in motion—it makes curiosity and perpetual learning core tenets of my job.
What’s been the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received from a colleague?
Read—regardless of how tired you are after work. If you don't read early in your career, you'll never do it as you get older. It’s a great way to keep your mind open, learn new things, and indulge your curiosity.
What do you most appreciate about working at NEA?
I’ve been at NEA for five years now, and I’m always impressed by the firm’s innovation at a fund level. Rather than resting on its legacy, I believe that NEA continues to evolve and adapt—often taking the road less traveled. So that, and the people.
I strongly believe that…
Your team matters more than your tech or product. (But having both doesn’t hurt.)
What was your first job?
I was a baseball card dealer. I'd only buy rookie cards—mostly of players I'd never heard of—because of the potential upside. I think there are certainly a lot of parallels to be drawn between my card-collecting strategy and my approach to venture investing!
If you hadn’t found your way into venture capital, what would you be doing?
I’d be an academic hematologic oncologist trying to balance research and the clinic. I’ve always been intrigued by this area of study and practice.
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“I’ve been at NEA for five years now, and I’m always impressed by the firm’s innovation at a fund level. Rather than resting on its legacy, I believe that NEA continues to evolve and adapt—often taking the road less traveled.”
