Michele joined NEA in 2021 as an investor on the Healthcare team focused on the biopharma space. Prior to NEA, Michele was an investor at Clarus Ventures (now Blackstone Life Sciences). Previously, she spent time in biotechnology research analyst roles at Credit Suisse and Piper Jaffray. Michele received her PhD in molecular biology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and completed her dissertation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She holds a BA in molecular biology from Princeton.
What would you say is the most interesting part of investing in the biotech sector?
The pace of the advancement. The scientific progress that has been made in the just over two decades of my time working in biotech is mind-blowing. We have seen dramatic improvements in treating cancer, rare genetic disorders, heart disease, and metabolic disease. It’s inspiring to envision all the ways these treatments will continue to improve, as well as new modalities that will emerge within the neurodegenerative and age-related disease spaces.
What sort of qualities do you look for in biotech founders, specifically?
I think biotech is the most exciting and potentially rewarding sector, but it is not for the faint of heart. I think founders that are passionate, resilient, highly adaptable, and visionary make for successful leaders.
From your perspective, what makes NEA different from other venture firms?
NEA has a youthful, intellectual energy within its team, which is also reflected in its investing approach. There are no predispositions or biases that prevent us from looking at everything across the risk spectrum. We look for technologies with breakthrough potential, and then we aim to navigate uncharted pathways in partnership with founders and management to bring them to market.
What inspires you to stay curious?
My 82-year-old father has the mind of a young scholar; his current nightstand reading materials include Homer’s Odyssey, recent articles from the scientific journal Nature, and Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. He continues to learn every day, and his thirst for knowledge continues to grow. Watching him has reinforced for me that the process of learning and discovery is energizing and keeps our minds inquisitive and sharp.
I strongly believe that…
Nothing comes for free. Innovative founders, brilliant scientists, and transformative technologies all require massive amounts of time, energy, effort, and intellectual and financial capital to realize their fullest potential.
What keeps you grounded?
My family—my husband, two daughters, brother, and parents. Anyone interested in learning the art of humility should spend time with them—a day or two would be sufficient. They are brutally honest, incessantly demanding nothing short of my best, most honest effort. They keep me on my toes and keep me laughing.
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“We look for technologies with breakthrough potential, and then we aim to navigate uncharted pathways in partnership with founders and management to bring them to market.”
