Jay W. Schmelter
InvestorCo-founder & Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners · Board director at Alleviant Medical Inc · Board director at Smart Wires · Board director at Tryton Medical
St. Louis
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About
Jay Schmelter is a co-founder of RiverVest Venture Partners, a St. Louis-based venture capital firm focused on life science companies, which he helped launch alongside Tom Melzer and Andy Craig. Since RiverVest's formation and Fund I, the firm has made investments across medical device and biopharma companies, with 61 investments and 41 exits, and portfolio companies whose products have treated patients worldwide. Schmelter was a co-founder of portfolio company Salient Surgical, one of the firm's first two investments. He continues to focus on enabling entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize novel life science technologies.
Contact· published on Jay's own website
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Co-founded RiverVest Venture Partners alongside Tom Melzer and Andy Craig. Co-founded Salient Surgical, one of RiverVest's first two portfolio investments.
From Jay's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Alleviant Medical Inc
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Alleviant Medical Inc's investors · 9
Co-founders at Alleviant Medical Inc
Board director at Smart Wires
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Board director at Tryton Medical
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In turn, Jay can intro founders to Tryton Medical's investors below.
Tryton Medical's investors · 1
Co-founders at Tryton Medical
Experience
- RiverVest Venture PartnersCo-Founder and Managing Directorcurrent2000 — presentSt. Louis, Missouri
- Crescendo VenturesPrincipal1998 — 2000Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Piper JaffrayEquity Research Analyst1996 — 1998Minneapolis, Minnesota
- MedtronicMarketing Manager1994 — 1996Minneapolis, Minnesota
- General MillsSenior Financial Analyst1987 — 1992Minneapolis, Minnesota
Skills & more
From Jay's professional profile.
Deals · 5
Alleviant Medical IncBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Jan 2025 · $91.4M raise
Intervene IncBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Mar 2023 · $3M raise
Cardialen IncBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Jul 2021 · $4.4M raise
Smart WiresBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Nov 2018 · $20M raise
Tryton MedicalBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Feb 2017 · $8M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Investor
Idev Technologies IncSalient Surgical
Sources: SEC Form D filings · curated public sources · the investor's own website.
Colleagues at RiverVest Venture Partners
Network1
Investors connected to Jay in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Jay W. Schmelter?
- Jay Schmelter is a co-founder of RiverVest Venture Partners, a St. Louis-based venture capital firm focused on life science companies, which he helped launch alongside Tom Melzer and Andy Craig. Since RiverVest's formation and Fund I, the firm has made investments across medical device and biopharma companies, with 61 investments and 41 exits, and portfolio companies whose products have treated patients worldwide. Schmelter was a co-founder of portfolio company Salient Surgical, one of the firm's first two investments. He continues to focus on enabling entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize novel life science technologies.
- Where does Jay W. Schmelter work?
- Jay W. Schmelter is Co-founder & Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners and Board director at Alleviant Medical Inc and Board director at Smart Wires and Board director at Tryton Medical.
- What boards does Jay W. Schmelter sit on?
- Jay W. Schmelter holds tracked board seats at Alleviant Medical Inc, Cardialen Inc, Intervene Inc, Smart Wires, Tryton Medical.
- What companies has Jay W. Schmelter invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Alleviant Medical Inc, Idev Technologies Inc, Intervene Inc, Salient Surgical, Tryton Medical.
- Where did Jay W. Schmelter go to school?
- Jay W. Schmelter studied at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA); Michigan State University (B.A. Accounting).
Same school
Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business941
+ 935 more
Also attended Michigan State University259
+ 253 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Crescendo Ventures5
Also worked at Piper Jaffray98
+ 92 more
Also worked at Medtronic236
+ 230 more
Also worked at General Mills52
+ 46 more