Dave Messina
InvestorFounderAdvisor at Harmonix Fund · Founder/COO at Cofactor Genomics
San Diego, California, United States
FoundedCofactor Genomics · YC
About
Dave Messina is General Partner of Pioneer Fund's Future of Health Fund, which invests in Y Combinator healthtech companies and is comprised of over 100 Y Combinator alumni. He has led more than 100 healthcare investments since joining Pioneer Fund in 2019, including exits and companies such as Gilgamesh, Assort Health, Stepful, Freshpaint, and PostEra. Prior to venture capital, Messina founded Cofactor Genomics, an RNA and machine learning company that obtained Medicare reimbursement, and has over 25 years of experience in healthcare that includes work on the Human Genome Project and a PhD in computational biology.
Founder/COO at Cofactor GenomicsYC S15
Intro paths
YC
Dave went through Y Combinator (Summer 2015) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
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In turn, Dave can intro founders to Cofactor Genomics's investors below.
Cofactor Genomics's investors · 9
Argonautic VenturesNew York · $5M checksAscension VenturesSaint Louis · $10M – $20M checks · since 2025DCVC (Data Collective)Palo Alto · $5M – $25M checksFifty YearsSan Francisco · $250K – $2M checksiSelect FundSt. Louis · $250K – $2M checksMenlo VenturesSan Francisco · $1M – $20M checks · since 2023National Institutes of Health (NIH)since 2015TenOneTen VenturesLos Angeles · $500K – $5M checksY CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2015
Co-founders at Cofactor Genomics
JG
Jarret GlasscockFounder/CTO
JG
Jarret GlassockExecutive Officer, Director
JA
Jon ArmstrongDirector
Experience
- Pioneer FundGeneral Partnercurrent2024 — present
- Pioneer FundSenior Venture Partner and co-lead Bio+Health Fund2022 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
- Pioneer FundSenior Venture Partner2019 — 2024San Francisco Bay Area
- Pioneer FundVenture Partner2017 — 2019San Francisco Bay Area
- Y CombinatorY Combinator (S15)current2015 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Y CombinatorStartup School Advisor2017
- iSelect FundMember of Selection Committeecurrent2016 — present
- GeneoscopyAdvisorcurrent2017 — present
- Cofactor Genomics Inc. (RNA Diagnostics Company)Founder and Chief Operating Officer2016 — 2024
- HarmonixAdvisor2020 — 2024
- American Cancer SocietyAdvisor2018 — 2022
- Thomas Jefferson SchoolMember of the Board of Trustees2013 — 2019
- Cofactor Genomics, LLC (Pharma Sequencing Services)Chief Operating Officer2015 — 2016
- Cofactor Genomics, LLC (Pharma Sequencing Services)Director of Analysis2012 — 2015Saint Louis, MO, USA
- BioPerl ProjectCore Developer2010 — 2015
- BioPerl ProjectDeveloper2005 — 2010
- Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryTeaching Assistant for Genome Informatics Course2006 — 2014
- Stockholm UniversityPhD Computational Biology2007 — 2012
- Washington University Genome Sequencing CenterSenior Analyst2004 — 2007
- Washington University School of MedicineGraduate student1998 — 2004
Education
- Stockholm UniversityDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Computational Biology2007 — 2012
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. LouisMaster of Science (MS), Genetics1998 — 2004
- University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor of Science (BS), Biology1994 — 1996
Skills & more
Healthcare3Investments3Investing4Biotechnology1Machine LearningDue DiligenceAngel InvestingVenture CapitalSoftware Project ManagementStart-upsEntrepreneurshipBioinformatics99
+12 more
GenomicsSequence AnalysisMicroarray AnalysisMetagenomicsHuman GeneticsComputational BiologyBioPerlBiologyPerlRPublic SpeakingStrategyFrom Dave's professional profile.
Colleagues at Harmonix Fund
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Dave Messina work?
- Dave Messina is Advisor at Harmonix Fund and Founder/COO at Cofactor Genomics.
- What companies did Dave Messina found?
- Dave Messina founded Cofactor Genomics.
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia8,732
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University of Illinois Chicago mafia10
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Lyle BerkowitzMDFounded Apollo Health +1Anshul SadanaMSFounded NexthopPaul BurtonBAFounded Akan BiosciencesBetsy ForeBachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)Founded Tiny OrganicsVincent PribbleBachelor of Science - BSFounded Micro MeatSneh PatelFounded Delfino AI
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Stockholm University mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Fredrik ArviusLawFounded InsightMeSara WimmercranzFounded FootwayTatiana ShalalvandMaster program in Consumer and Business MarketingFounded Marshall GroupOla WibergHistory of Ideas - Department of Culture and AestheticsFounded OWNYTamas GorbeDoctor of Philosophy - PhDFounded Menten AIPorsev AslanResearch School / ForskningsskolanFounded Openroll
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Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Stockholm University84
Andrea EchstenkamperVP of Marketing at HeavybitIrene ArdenstedtInvestor at Luminar VenturesSandra MalmbergInvestor at EQT VenturesMartin Boldt-ChristmasInvestor at Green FlagAndreas LindblomManaging Partner at ScietyVilton BastiampillaiAssociate – Equity Capital Markets at Sciety
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Also attended Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis11
Reid HuberPartner at Third Rock VenturesDavid CohnInterim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer at Oncology VenturesBen ScruggsPartner at Hatteras Venture PartnersDave VreelandSenior Managing Partner at Caduceus Capital PartnersDana WattPartner at Breakout VenturesDon FrailSenior Advisor at Frazier Life Sciences
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Also attended University of Illinois Chicago44
Sam BlackmanEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Kate WilschutzChief Financial Officer, Revolution Funds at RevolutionSteve ShafferOperating Partner at Volition CapitalAnshul SadanaCEO, Nexthop AI at EMERGENT VENTURESStefano GaliassoVice President at Energy Capital VenturesBoris GyllhamnInvestor at Almi Invest
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Shared employers
Also worked at Pioneer Fund134
Ganesh NayakFundraising and Capital Markets at Avataar Venture PartnersZach WaterfieldInvestor at Ripple VenturesNicholas GoldnerVenture Partner at Alix VenturesJohn CassidyManaging Director Canada at SVG Ventures | THRIVEMichael ZhaoPrincipal at Eniac VenturesSaad RizviChief Product Officer at Superlayer
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Also worked at Y Combinator336
Garry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorJessica LivingstonCo-founder of Y CombinatorDaniel GrossMeta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDG and Safe SuperintelligenceAlexis OhanianFounder & General Partner of Seven Seven SixMichael SeibelPartner Emeritus at Y CombinatorDalton CaldwellCo-founder of Standard Capital; Partner Emeritus at Y Combinator
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