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.
Background:
James joined Arboretum in 2024 and is responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities and supporting Arboretum’s portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Arboretum, James was a Senior Consultant in Guidehouse’s Healthcare Strategy & Innovation practice where he supported payor and provider clients across enterprise and line-of- business level initiatives.
James earned his BS in Human Biology, Health, and Society from Cornell University.
What are you most looking forward to about being a Venture Fellow?
I am most looking forward to gaining more exposure to the start-up ecosystem in the Midwest while broadening my professional network in the venture capital space.
What attracts you to Michigan’s venture capital industry?
When considering the non-coastal and under-ventured region that is Michigan and the broader Midwest, I have come to appreciate the great entrepreneurs and opportunities that are often overlooked and/or underfunded relative to a national basis. Arboretum’s focus on such opportunities and associated successes has only emphasized this more in my mind as I continue to work in the industry and region.
What ideas do you have to support and advance DEI in our entrepreneurial and investment community?
Tying back to the Midwest ecosystem, an emphasis on and consideration of “under-ventured” sectors and geographies is a natural conduit to expanding diverse entrepreneurial and investment communities.
What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
I hope to continue learning and working with great people while embodying those pillars myself both professionally and personally. If those two things are true, then my hopes will be realized.
What’s your dream deal — the company you wish YOU had spotted first?
Hindsight is 20/20, and in the forward-looking field of venture, the best one is the next one!