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.
Bio Update: Including but not limited to your role, what you’ve been working on, and key achievements?
Evan joined Arboretum Ventures in October 2025 as Controller. Over the past year he has moved from learning Arboretum’s existing systems to helping reshape them. That has ranged from overhauling the firm’s accounts payable process, to leading a broader initiative to redesign the management company accounting function, to beginning to extend that work to fund level accounting and the quarterly close. His focus has been on building a more automated and scalable finance function to allow for more value-add work.
What are some of the most important skills you’ve learned during your fellowship, and how have they benefited you?
Coming from a real estate background, the biggest adjustment has been learning the mechanics of venture. The deal structures, terms, and the businesses themselves are different from what I was used to, and getting fluent in them has helped me understand and add to our valuation discussions. What has made it click recently was getting into the details, like modeling liquidation waterfalls to see exactly how proceeds flow to each stakeholder across different scenarios.
So far, what’s the most memorable thing you’ve experienced during your fellowship?
The MVCA Summer Cruise stands out. It was a great chance to meet other fellows and investors in person, connect names to faces, and get a better feel for the broader ecosystem I’m a part of. It was a nice event and a good reminder of how collaborative Michigan’s venture community is.
How are you promoting a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial and investment community in Michigan?
I think a healthy ecosystem is one that stays open to people coming in from nontraditional paths, which resonates with me since I came into venture from real estate rather than a typical venture capital background. Having taken that route myself, I try to be a resource to others finding their way in, whatever their background.
What excites you the most about your career in Michigan?
We recently welcomed our first child here, which has given me an even greater interest in seeing Michigan succeed. I want it to continue to be a place where strong companies get built and supported, and getting to contribute to that while putting down roots in the same community is what excites me most.
Besides work, what is one of your passions or aspirations — what do you love to talk about?
Outside of work, I’ve played guitar on and off for many years. A recent Billy Strings show (Michigan native) pulled me back in, this time toward bluegrass of all things. I can’t say I ever expected to fall for the genre. The songs are deceptively difficult, and I’ve come to love that it rewards patience and persistence. I find similarities to the work I’m doing, where I still have a lot to learn, but it’s the steady, consistent effort that eventually pays off.