FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ANN ARBOR, MICH. – JULY 1, 2014 — The Michigan Venture Capital Association’s (MVCA) Venture Fellows Program recently celebrated the completion of Jared Stasik’s two-year fellowship with Detroit Venture Partners and the placement of new Fellow Reda Jaber with Birmingham-based IncWell. The Venture Fellows program matches talented, highly motivated, emerging professionals with venture capital firms in order to grow the next generation of venture professionals in Michigan.
MVCA recently received $987,850 from the Michigan Strategic Fund for Venture Upstart III, which includes the Michigan Venture Fellows program.
“Attracting talent to Michigan is a demonstrated need in our community, and the Venture Fellow Program has made a substantive impact on our member firms’ ability to do so. Not only are our member firms successfully recruiting the nation’s most exceptional young venture professionals, but their presence strengthens the state’s knowledge–based economy; according to the most recent MVCA Research Report, in the last five years, the number of venture professionals increased by 84 percent in Michigan,” said Carrie Jones, MVCA executive director. “Further, the arrival of Fellows from around the country stems the ‘brain drain’ of Michigan’s young professionals. Jared, Reda, and the other Venture Fellows could have chosen to establish their careers anywhere; fortunately, these talented professionals chose Michigan, and MVCA is so pleased to offer a program that made their return easier.”
Stasik, who has been an associate at Detroit Venture Partners (DVP), was promoted to vice president. A graduate of the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business, he earned a masters of business administration degree at University of California – Berkeley. His work at DVP is focused on fund management, finances, and administration.
In describing his decision to accept a position at a Michigan venture capital firm, Stasik said, “Michigan is home for me, and the MVCA Venture Fellows program helped me make the transition home from California. I was lucky enough to join Detroit Venture Partners just as the Fund was making its first investments. I loved the entrepreneurial environment, and even more so, I loved that everything we did was directly impacting Detroit. I’m looking forward to continuing to help Detroit Venture Partners and our more than 20 startups in every way that I can.”
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity given to me by DVP and the MVCA,” Stasik added. “I look forward to working with and mentoring other Venture Fellows as the program grows.”
Newest MVCA Venture Fellow Reda Jaber is the director of business development and medical sector lead at IncWell. Prior to joining IncWell, Jaber gained experience with early stage investing at Wolverine Angel Network and Stage 2 Innovations. He has co-founded several early stage startups including MDCases, Visionary Kids, and MI Happy App.
Jaber earned his bachelor of science degree with Highest Distinction from the University of Michigan. He earned his MD with Distinctions in Research, Service, and Medical Education from the University of Michigan Medical School and an MBA with a focus in Healthcare Entrepreneurship from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He also holds an MS in Clinical Research from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
“I chose to pursue a career in healthcare venture capital because I felt that I could make a more significant impact on patient lives, on a larger scale, in this role,” Jaber explained regarding his decision to choose venture capital over a career as a doctor. “I hoped to be able to build my career as a venture capital professional in my home state of Michigan, and the MVCA Venture Fellows program allowed me to do that. I’m looking forward to contributing to the stellar team at IncWell where I can help grow exciting early-stage healthcare startups who have the highest potential to make a systemic impact on patient care.”
About The Michigan Venture Capital Association
The Michigan Venture Capital Association is a non-profit trade organization designed to bring together venture capital industry participants in the state of Michigan. The organization’s goal is to grow and sustain a vibrant venture capital community in Michigan. Michigan Venture Capital Association members include private venture capital funds, corporate venture capital funds, private equity firms, angel investors, and entrepreneurial infrastructure participants. More than 200 individuals are members of the Michigan Venture Capital Association, representing 100+ organizations across the state. For more information, visit www.MichiganVCA.org.
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