Aaron Nelson
InvestorManaging Director at Novartis Venture Fund
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Writes $5M – $10M checks · typically $7.5M
About
Aaron Nelson is a Partner at Novo Holdings with a background spanning academic research, pharmaceutical development, and digital medicine. His current focus is therapeutic chemical and biological technologies.
Experience
- Novo HoldingsPartnercurrent2025 — presentBoston, Massachusetts, United States
- Novartis Venture FundManaging Director2017 — 2025Greater Boston
- dRx Capital AGGeneral Partner2015 — 2018virtual
- NovartisDirector of Strategic Projects2013 — 2015
- NovartisSenior Investigator II, Translational Sciences2009 — 2013
- Karolinska InstitutetPost-doctoral Fellow2006 — 2007
Education
- Tufts University School of MedicineM.D., Medicine2000 — 2009
- University of Pennsylvania School of MedicinePhD, Cell and Molecular Biology2002 — 2006
- Cornell UniversityB.A., Evolutionary biology1994 — 1998
Skills & more
Molecular Biology29Animal Models10Pharmacology13Biochemistry11Toxicology4Cell Biology23Clinical Development16Biomarkers7Translational Science4Drug Development35Cell16Biotechnology12
+10 more
In VivoInfectious DiseasesProtein ChemistryTranslational MedicineImmunoassaysCell CultureIn VitroLife SciencesPublic SpeakingPharmaceutical IndustryLanguages English
From Aaron's professional profile.
Colleagues at Novartis Venture Fund
Adam Cotton
Principal at Novartis Venture Fund
Anja Koenig
Global Head of NVF at Novartis Venture Fund
Anja König
Global Head at Novartis Venture Fund
Bart Dzikowski
Managing Director, Head of Transactions & Legal at Novartis Venture Fund
Beat Steffen
Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund
Christoph Meier
Investor at Novartis Venture Fund
Elaine Jones
Investor at Novartis Venture Fund
Elena Battistello
Analyst at Novartis Venture Fund
Network5
Anja Koenig
Global Head of NVF at Novartis Venture Fund
Bart Dzikowski
Managing Director, Head of Transactions & Legal at Novartis Venture Fund
Beat Steffen
Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund
Elena Battistello
Analyst at Novartis Venture Fund
Florian Muellershausen
Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund
Investors connected to Aaron in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Aaron Nelson work?
- Aaron Nelson is Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund.
- What check size does Aaron Nelson write?
- Aaron Nelson typically writes checks of $5M – $10M.
Same school
Also attended Tufts University School of Medicine13
Brigham HydeVenture Partner at Audere CapitalJai ParekhDigital Health Advisor at Excelerate Health VenturesKetan PatelManaging Partner at F-Prime Capital PartnersGreg HornerInvestor at Sand Hill AngelsRené KuijtenPartner, Head of EQT Life Sciences at EQT Life SciencesChristina IsacsonPartner at Lightstone Ventures
+ 7 more
Also attended University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine24
Jun JeonInvestor at Khosla VenturesSeth GlickmanDigital Health Advisor at Excelerate Health VenturesJonathan LeffExecutive Partner, Private Equity at Sofinnova VenturesFrederick JonesAdvisory Partner at BioAdvanceRené KuijtenPartner, Head of EQT Life Sciences at EQT Life SciencesMatt CohenManaging Partner at OUP (Osage University Partners)
+ 18 more
Also attended Cornell University705
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerJenny LeeSenior Managing Partner at Granite AsiaNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesMichelle FernandesInvestor at Index VenturesMicah RosenbloomGeneral Partner at Founder CollectiveAlexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North America
+ 699 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Novartis Venture Fund126
Rebecca JamesInvestor at Index VenturesScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Freya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at MedicxiAndrea AmadorCompliance Manager at Inveready Technology Investment GroupAbbie CelnikerInvestor at Third Rock VenturesJesper GromadaInvestor at Third Rock Ventures
+ 120 more
Also worked at Karolinska Institutet16
Gunnar AhlbergVenture Partner at ScietyJohan LundVenture Partner at ScietyPatrik SobockiPractice Lead Deep Tech and Senior Investment Director at IndustrifondenJonathan IlickiInvestor at IndustrifondenChristian Krog-JensenInvestor at Almi InvestCarl KilanderPartner at HealthCap
+ 10 more