Find your path to Darja
48 people in our graph share verified history with Darja — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Avantika GuptaunlockedDarja: together at The University of Auckland (2008–2012)
×2Darja: together at The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited
×3Darja: together at Scentian Bio
×3Darja: together at The University of Auckland
About
Started as a neuroscience researcher and moved into commercializing deep tech IP from NZ research institutes, including a spinout from Plant & Food Research, before focusing on early-stage investment.
Experience
- pharmAgentInvestor directorcurrent2026 — present
- Precision Chromatography LimitedChairpersoncurrent2025 — present
- Bridgewest Ventures NZOperating Partnercurrent2025 — present
- Bridgewest Ventures NZCommercialization Manager2023 — 2025
- Compostify (Bioplastics)Investor Directorcurrent2024 — presentNew Zealand
- Zealafoam Holdings LimitedDirectorcurrent2024 — present
- Project DORISDirectorcurrent2023 — present
- OnBoard NZ2022 Cohort Member2022 — 2024Auckland, New Zealand
- Marama LabsBoard Observer2022 — 2023New Zealand
- Scentian Bio Ltd.Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)2021 — 2023Auckland, New Zealand
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research LimitedSenior Commercialisation Manager2019 — 2023Auckland Metropolitan Area
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research LimitedIP Advisor2016 — 2021Auckland
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research LimitedIP Co-ordinator2012 — 2016Auckland
- University of AucklandBiomedical Science Technician2011 — 2012Liggins Institute
- The University of AucklandBioscience Enterprise Masters Graduate2010 — 2011
- UniServicesTechnology Development Intern2010
Skills & more
Portfolio ManagementVenture CapitalBoard GovernanceBusiness DevelopmentCapital RaisingMolecular Biology1Intellectual Property3NeurobiologyBiotechnology10Lifesciences4Science2Commercialization2
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ResearchData AnalysisGeneticsBiochemistryLife SciencesPCRDeep Tech InvestingCommercial Strategy and Go-to-MarketManagementStrategyLanguages English · Serbo-Croatian
From Darja's professional profile.
Colleagues at Bridgewest Ventures
Adam Gickling
Executive Vice President, Bridgewest Group at Bridgewest Ventures
Akansha Gill
Legal & Governance Manager at Bridgewest Ventures
Dr Massih Tayebi
Chief Executive, Bridgewest Group at Bridgewest Ventures
Jennifer Henry Brown
General Counsel, Bridgewest Group at Bridgewest Ventures
John Robson
General Manager New Zealand at Bridgewest Ventures
Kathryn de Ridder
Investment Director at Bridgewest Ventures
Rayan Coates
Investment Analyst Intern at Bridgewest Ventures
Saeed Khorami
Executive Vice President, Bridgewest Group at Bridgewest Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Darja Nelson?
- Started as a neuroscience researcher and moved into commercializing deep tech IP from NZ research institutes, including a spinout from Plant & Food Research, before focusing on early-stage investment.
- Where does Darja Nelson work?
- Darja Nelson is Operating Partner at Bridgewest Ventures.
- Where did Darja Nelson go to school?
- Darja Nelson studied at University of Auckland (Master's Degree, Biomedical Science); University of Auckland (Master's Degree, Bioscience Enterprise); University of Auckland (BSc, Biomedical Science).
Same school
Shared employers
Also worked at pharmAgent1
Also worked at Bridgewest Ventures NZ8
Saum VahdatCEO at Bridgewest VenturesKathryn de RidderInvestment Director at Bridgewest VenturesJohn RobsonGeneral Manager New Zealand at Bridgewest VenturesAkansha GillLegal & Governance Manager at Bridgewest VenturesXavier TaucherFund Associate at Bridgewest VenturesTamsin BatemanInvestment Manager at Bridgewest Ventures
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