Elaine Stead joins Main Sequence in deep tech investing role
In what might retrospectively look like an obvious union, prominent VC Elaine Stead is joining the CSIRO-backed venture capital fund.
The $1 billion-plus CSIRO-backed vehicle Main Sequence has hired prominent venture capitalist Elaine Stead as a principal on its investment team as it ramps up its search for deep tech startups to add to its portfolio.
Stead, who has a background in biochemistry, microbiology and immunology and is also a well known entrepreneur and venture capitalist, will focus on unearthing opportunities for Main Sequence’s investment challenge: “Reach Humanity Scale Healthcare.”
Main Sequence, which has more than $1 billion under management across its funds has forged a reputation one of the country's biggest funder of deep tech startups - that is, startups focused on technologically complex 'moonshot' activities. Some of the current startups it has backed include Samsara Eco, Regrow, Advanced Navigation and Q-CTRL.
Stead said deep tech is an area close to her heart and something she believes Australia needs to become better at to build new industries. For now, her attention is focussed on what that means for the future of healthcare.
