The Michigan Venture Capital Association is proud to offer the Venture Fellows Program to Michigan’s venture capital community. The program, launched in 2023, is designed to increase the number of venture professionals in Michigan in order to accelerate the fundraising and deployment of capital into early-stage companies.
About Drew
Drew Mcusic is a Venture Associate at Union Heritage, focusing on sourcing, selecting, and supporting early-stage investments across healthcare, climate, mobility, and advanced manufacturing. He approaches investing through a “planetary health, local impact” lens, seeking transformational technologies that improve human and environmental outcomes while creating durable jobs and economic opportunity. Drew brings over a decade of experience as an operator and product leader, having guided Michigan-based companies through critical stages of growth, from product development to successful exits. Previously, he served as CTO and VP of Product at Theoria Medical, where he deployed AI and machine learning systems to support clinical decision-making and operational scale. Earlier, at Swift Biosciences (acquired by Danaher’s IDT division), he led product initiatives for next-generation DNA sequencing technologies. His role on the investment team includes conducting pipeline framework and deal flow mapping to integrate future AI tools for proactive sourcing, serving as the main point of contact for a select group of portfolio companies, and participating in community efforts including mentoring founders and judging pitch competitions. He is particularly focused on how emerging AI and generative technologies can be responsibly applied to improve forecasting and decision support in regulated sectors. Drew holds a PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from Rice University.
What are you most looking forward to about being a Venture Fellow?
This fellowship is catalyzing my growth from operator to investor and allows me to fully commit to a hands-on investing philosophy, applying my product-focused, operational lens directly to sourcing and supporting high-conviction deal flow. Equally important is the opportunity it creates to accelerate my connection to and assistance of other investors, founders, and ecosystem partners, and to build community that equitably uplifts all its members. Effective capital formation requires a robust, interconnected community. I aim to leverage this platform to strengthen those ties, from collaborating on diligence with co-investors and connecting with other emerging funds, to providing strategic support that goes beyond capital to portfolio founders. Ultimately, I want to help ensure we are collectively building a stronger, more resilient venture pipeline.
What attracts you to Michigan’s venture capital industry?
I’m attracted to Michigan’s venture capital industry because of the region’s distinct culture of action and pioneering ability to “just do” instead of getting lost in talk. This translates to an opportunity for investors to get deeply involved in commercializing transformative technologies, not just observing them. This culture is amplified by an exceptionally close community. Being grounded allows for accelerated connections with co-investors, strategic support for founders, and collaborative efforts with ecosystem partners. The recent launch of the Innovation Alliance, of which both MVCA and Union Heritage are members, is the perfect embodiment of this momentum. It formalizes our shared commitment to creating a unified, powerful voice for Michigan’s high-growth economy. I am excited to leverage my role to contribute directly to this collective effort, helping translate our state’s foundational strengths into a stronger, more resilient venture pipeline that can compete regionally, nationally and globally.
What ideas do you have to support and advance DEI in our entrepreneurial and investment community?
My commitment to shared equity and embracing the strength of diversity is fundamental to my role and why I joined Union Heritage. I strongly align with their values and active, hands-on approach to finding, investing in, and leveraging the outsized returns that underrepresented founders consistently achieve. This is not just a mission, but a core strategy: Union Heritage is a majority African American and woman-owned firm, and we believe that having a diverse team and set of perspectives is essential for successfully navigating and investing in a diverse economy. Our investment model intentionally closes funding gaps, which drives market disruption and creates the highest economic opportunity. Diversity is an economic engine, and we are built to invest in it.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to have built a strong investment track record and to continue leveling up my ability to make the world a better place through technology entrepreneurship.
What’s your dream deal — the company you wish YOU had spotted first?
Having just come from Michigan Tech Week, it’s hard not to acknowledge how inspiring the story of HistoSonics was as a deal from start to finish. It represents a compelling profile: a university spin-out with de-risked technology, strong leadership with the ability to pivot, all culminating in a meaningful exit.