WI

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF Ventures)

VC
Madison, WIWebsite
How to approach: warm intro preferred
Stage

Pre-Seed, Seed

Check Size

$250K – $2.0M

Portfolio

65+ companies

Team

15 partners

Investor activity
Investments in last 12 months: 0

Investment Thesis

Supports commercialization of UW–Madison innovations and Wisconsin-based technology startups, including deep tech and materials-derived IP.

Meet the Team

LT

Lysa Thoeny

Chief Financial Officer

GK

Greg Keenan

Senior Director

MF

Michael Falk

Chief Intellectual Property Officer

AH

Alain Hung

Deputy Chief Investment Officer

JB

Jeanine Burmania

Senior Director of Intellectual Property

MP

Mike Partsch

Chief Strategy Officer

MM

Maureen Miner

Director of Human Resources

JG

Jennifer Gottwald

Director of Licensing

SW

Stephanie Whitehorse

Director of Intellectual Property

BF

Beth Fischer

Director of Intellectual Property

SC

Sands Capital

Partner

AV

ARCH Venture Partners

Partner

NV

Northpond Ventures

Partner

WV

WARF Ventures Team

Investment Team

UW-Madison commercialization
Deep tech
WI

Wisconsin Investment Board

Partner

Industry Focus

Invests In

Other
Deep Tech
Healthcare
AI / ML
Climate / Energy
EdTech

Portfolio Companies (65)

Other

NE

NeuWave Medical (historic WARF-related)

Medical Devices
EX

Exact Sciences (historic Wisconsin ecosystem)

Diagnostics
AI

AIQ Solutions Inc.

Healthcare AI·Early-stage

Algorithm-enabled service improving care for late-stage cancer

AL

Alithic

Cleantech·Early-stage

Carbon capture and mineralization for restorative infrastructure

AL

AlfaLight

Photonics/Defense·Early-stage

Reliable, rugged and efficient laser and electro-optical systems for defense and security applications

AR

ArunA Biomedical Inc.

Biotech·Early-stage

Stem cell research tools

AS

Asterias Biotherapeutics Inc.

Biotech·Early-stage

Therapies based on pluripotent stem cells

AT

Atrility Medical

Medtech·Early-stage

Device to improve atrial arrhythmia diagnosis

BE

BellBrook Labs LLC

Life Sciences Tools·Early-stage

Innovative and optimization tools for researchers

BI

BioSentinel Inc.

Diagnostics·Early-stage

Rapid, sensitive tests for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins

How to pitch Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF Ventures)
  • Raising at Pre-Seed, Seed? You're squarely in their sweet spot.
  • Lead with your fit in Other, Deep Tech, Healthcare — the sectors they actively back.
  • Size your ask to their typical $250K – $2.0M check.
  • warm intro preferred
  • Address your outreach to a specific partner, such as Lysa Thoeny, Chief Financial Officer.
  • A warm introduction beats a cold email. Get matched and request an intro.

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