Fundraising Fox

Elaine Stead

Investor

Principal at Main Sequence Ventures

Greater Adelaide Area

About

Elaine Stead, a PhD biochemist and former biotech founder, draws on nearly 20 years of Australian VC experience to bridge CSIRO, universities, startups and capital, championing national-scale deep-tech healthcare.

Invests in

AgTechClimate TechDeep TechFoodTechHardwareHealthtechSpace Tech

Experience

  1. Macrobiome Therapeutics Pty LtdDirectorcurrent2025 — present
  2. Currus Biologics Pty LtdDirectorcurrent2025 — present
  3. Xoma LabsDirectorcurrent2025 — present
  4. Xylo BioDirectorcurrent2024 — present
  5. RNA AustraliaDirectorcurrent2024 — present
  6. Main SequencePrincipalcurrent2024 — presentAdelaide, South Australia, Australia
  7. Human Venture CapitalManaging Director2019 — 2024Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  8. ANU Connect VenturesInvestment committee2012 — 2024
  9. ANU Connect VenturesInvestment Committee2012 — 2015
  10. The Australian National UniversityDirector New Ventures and Entrepreneurship2020 — 2024Canberra and Adelaide
  11. The Australian National UniversityDirector IP and Commercialisation2020 — 2021Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
  12. Tribe Global VenturesCo-Founder and Chief Investment Officer2021 — 2023Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  13. DeloitteStrategic Advisor2020 — 2023Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  14. StartupAUSBoard Member2018 — 2020
  15. Advance QueenslandPanel Member - Business Development Fund2015 — 2020
  16. Advance QueenslandExpert Panel Member2015 — 2019
  17. FivecastBoard Member2019 — 2020
  18. MyriotaBoard Member2019 — 2020
  19. KidSense Therapy Group, LLCBoard Member2018 — 2020
  20. Fluent CommerceChairperson2017 — 2019Sydney, Australia

Education

  1. Australian Institute of Company DirectorsCompany Essentials2006
  2. University of AdelaideDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biochemistry (Stem Cell Biology)1998 — 2002
  3. University of AdelaideBachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (hons), Biochemistty1993 — 1997

Skills & more

Latin America1Capital Allocation3Start-ups51Venture Capital52FDA1Business Strategy26Oncology2Drug Development4Mergers3Private Equity14Contract Negotiation6Market Development1
+12 moreRegulatory AffairsStrategic LeadershipInvestment ManagementLBOBiotechnologyHuman ResourcesHuman Resource DevelopmentInvestment StrategiesCapital RaisingStrategic ThinkingPersuasive SpeakerStrategic Planning

From Elaine's professional profile.

Colleagues at Main Sequence Ventures

Alejandra Romero
Associate at Main Sequence Ventures
Alezeia Brown
Investment Manager at Main Sequence Ventures
Alison Deans
Investment Committee at Main Sequence Ventures
Ben Hansky
Senior Legal Counsel at Main Sequence Ventures
Bill Bartee
Managing Partner at Main Sequence Ventures
Danielle Haj Moussa
Analyst at Main Sequence Ventures
Danielle Haj-Moussa
Associate at Main Sequence Ventures
Emerald Scofield
Associate at Main Sequence Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Where does Elaine Stead work?
Elaine Stead is Principal at Main Sequence Ventures.
What does Elaine Stead invest in?
Elaine Stead invests in AgTech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, FoodTech, Hardware, Healthtech, Space Tech.

Same school

Also attended Australian Institute of Company Directors136

John DysonInvestment Principal at Starfish VenturesHelen SounessVenture Partner at RampersandTim HeasleyPartner at ArtesianKirsten BernhardtPrincipal at ArtesianJordan JeffreyPrincipal at ArtesianStephanie MorrisPrincipal at Artesian

+ 130 more

Also attended University of Adelaide39

Tom SkevingtonSenior Legal Counsel at Square Peg CapitalDavid RohrsheimVenture Partner SAVCF at ArtesianKirsten BernhardtPrincipal at ArtesianMatthias de KockPrincipal at PeakBridge VCXavier MeeganFounder & CIO at FrachtisWinnie HsuPartner at WI Harper Group

+ 33 more

Shared employers

Also worked at The Australian National University19

Gordon RausserAdvisory Board Member at Rembrandt Venture PartnersPrathamesh JainInvestor at A91 PartnersAlex SmolaCEO and Co-Founder of Boson AI at PICUS CAPITALAakash JainPartner - North America, Europe, & LatAm at VU Venture PartnersArjan van der HoutExecutive Director at Rabo Corporate VenturingJason WhitfieldInvestment Manager at Main Sequence Ventures

+ 13 more

Also worked at Deloitte1,241

Kirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesHunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at HomebrewNancy WangInvestor at Felicis VenturesPatrick KartevollInvestor at InvestinorØysteinInvestor at InvestinorMinh DoAnalyst at Golden Gate Ventures

+ 1,235 more

Also worked at Fivecast2

Alex DollInvestor at Ten ElevenAlezeia BrownInvestment Manager at Main Sequence Ventures