About
Isaac Zike is a Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners, a life sciences venture firm, where he works on deal origination, due diligence, and portfolio company support. He joined RiverVest in 2019 as a senior associate, was promoted to principal in 2021, and became a managing director in 2023. Before venture capital, he worked as a life science associate at Huron Consulting Group in New York City, advising pharmaceutical and biotech clients on R&D and commercialization strategy. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University and undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and in genetics, cell biology, and development from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Contact· published on Isaac's own website
Beyond investing
- Education
- Earned a B.S. from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, double majoring in Biochemistry and in Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development. Completed a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University in the Veenstra-VanderWeele research group, focusing on novel animal models for psychiatric disease.
- Communities
- Is a member of the BioSTL Coalition, which unites academic, philanthropic, and scientific leaders to advance research and entrepreneurship in the St. Louis region.
From Isaac's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Experience
- RiverVest Venture PartnersManaging Directorcurrent2023 — present
- RiverVest Venture PartnersPrincipal2021 — 2023
- RiverVest Venture PartnersSenior Associate2019 — 2021Greater St. Louis Area
- HuronLife Science Associate2016 — 2019New York, NY
- Columbia University Medical CenterVisiting PHD Student2015 — 2017Greater New York City Area
- Vanderbilt UniversityPharmacology Ph.D. Student2010 — 2017
Skills & more
ResearchNeurosciencePharmacologyScienceMolecular BiologyStatisticsBiochemistryLife SciencesCell BiologyPCRData AnalysisWestern Blotting
+4 more
GeneticsFluorescence MicroscopyNeurpharmacologyBehavior Pharmacology- Ph.D. — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
From Isaac's professional profile.
Investments
Per the investor's own website.
Colleagues at RiverVest Venture Partners
Alessandro Sette
Scientific Advisor; Professor and Member, La Jolla Institute for Immunology at RiverVest Venture Partners
Andrew Kleiboeker
Associate at RiverVest Venture Partners
Andy Craig
Co-founder at RiverVest Venture Partners
Corrin Short
Executive Assistant at RiverVest Venture Partners
Courtney Harris
Controller at RiverVest Venture Partners
Gary DeCrescenzo
Scientific Advisor; Independent Consultant, Pharmaceutical Research and Development at RiverVest Venture Partners
Jared Rutter
Scientific Advisor; Professor of Biochemistry and HHMI Investigator, University of Utah at RiverVest Venture Partners
Jay W. Schmelter
Co-founder of RiverVest Venture Partners, funding and founding life science companies
Network1
Investors connected to Isaac in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Isaac Zike?
- Isaac Zike is a Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners, a life sciences venture firm, where he works on deal origination, due diligence, and portfolio company support. He joined RiverVest in 2019 as a senior associate, was promoted to principal in 2021, and became a managing director in 2023. Before venture capital, he worked as a life science associate at Huron Consulting Group in New York City, advising pharmaceutical and biotech clients on R&D and commercialization strategy. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University and undergraduate degrees in biochemistry and in genetics, cell biology, and development from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
- Where does Isaac Zike work?
- Isaac Zike is Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners.
- What boards does Isaac Zike sit on?
- Isaac Zike holds tracked board seats at Allotera Therapeutics, Glycomine, Scout Bio, SeQure Dx, Sparrow Pharmaceuticals.
- Where did Isaac Zike go to school?
- Isaac Zike studied at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Pharmacology); University of Minnesota (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biochemistry); Roosevelt High School.
Same school
Also attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine3
Also attended University of Minnesota144
Nina KapurFund Administrator and Staff Accountant at Madrona Venture GroupMadeline PopeSenior Associate, Platform & Marketing at March Capital PartnersNate LeeFounder and Chief Information Security Officer at Scale Venture PartnersRichard HeymanVenture Partner at ARCH Venture PartnersJohn BergstromInvestor at Mairs & Power VCMark GorenbergInvestor at Zetta Venture Partners
+ 138 more
Shared employers
Also worked at RiverVest Venture Partners10
Tom MelzerCo-founder at RiverVest Venture PartnersJay W. SchmelterCo-founder of RiverVest Venture Partners, funding and founding life science companiesJohn McKearnSenior Advisor at RiverVest Venture Partners, focused on early-stage biotechNiall O'DonnellManaging Director at RiverVest Venture PartnersKaren SpilizewskiBiomedical engineer helping accelerate life science technologies from development into the marketplacePascal KroteePrincipal, Ph.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners
+ 4 more
Also worked at Huron22
Margaret Gaby MalonePartner at Flare Capital PartnersKaumudh SindeAnalyst at Arthur VenturesEileen WarisPrincipal — Ventures at Energize VenturesCourtney SawatzkeEarly-stage Investor at Active PartnersDavid YooPrincipal at Struck CapitalIan RountreeGeneral Partner at Cantos Ventures
+ 16 more
Also worked at Columbia University Medical Center24
Lisa PurcellInvestor at Third Rock VenturesCoco DongDirector, Quantitative Applications at Deerfield Management CompanyMellissa GraySenior Scientist, Protein Sciences at Deerfield Management CompanyHalle TeccoFounder, Rock Health & Natalist at Giant Ventures Global LlpAudreyInvestment Team Member at Acadian Ventures Management, LlcTarek El-SawyVenture Partner at Raiven
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+ 18 more
Also worked at Vanderbilt University44
Sabina SmithPrincipal at Scale Venture PartnersBruce EvansSenior Advisor and former Managing Director of Summit PartnersEarl HendersonManaging Director at Service Provider CapitalCorey ThomasCEO, Rapid7 & Founding Pillar at Pillar VCLauren IngramPrincipal at AIFKeivan StassunDirector, Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University; National Medal of Science Laureate at AIF
+ 38 more