Karen Spilizewski
InvestorManaging Director at RiverVest Venture Partners · Board director at VentureMed Group
Cleveland
About
Karen Spilizewski is a biomedical engineer by training who works in life science venture capital at RiverVest Venture Partners. She joined the firm when its Cleveland office opened, giving RiverVest improved access to deal flow and due diligence resources. She was later promoted to managing director as part of a firm-wide advancement of team members. Her work centers on advancing medical technologies through development and into commercial use.
Contact· published on Karen's own website
Beyond investing
- Education
- Trained as a biomedical engineer.
- Awards
- Was promoted to managing director at RiverVest as part of a firm-wide advancement of team members.
From Karen's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at VentureMed Group
Intro paths
→
In turn, Karen can intro founders to VentureMed Group's investors below.
VentureMed Group's investors · 3
Co-founders at VentureMed Group
JP
John PigottExecutive Officer, Director
Experience
- RiverVest Venture PartnersManaging Directorcurrent2023 — present
- RiverVest Venture PartnersVice President2008 — 2023Cleveland, OH and St. Louis, MO
- Standard Bariatrics, IncMember Board Of Directors2018 — 2022Cincinnati, OH
- BioEnterpriseVice President, Business Development2005 — 2020Cleveland, OH
- Securus Medical GroupMember Board Of Directors2011 — 2018Cleveland, OH
- Neuros Medical, Inc.Board Observer2011 — 2017Willoughby Hills, OH
- Avery DennisonBusiness Development Manager1986 — 2005
Skills & more
ManagementStrategic Planning1Strategy1New Business Development27Venture Capital47Biomedical Engineering23Medical Devices67Due Diligence12BiotechnologyMergers & Acquisitions2Technology Transfer1Business Strategy
+12 more
CommercializationProduct DevelopmentR&DStart-upsLicensingMedical ImagingCorporate DevelopmentPrivate EquityISO 13485Business PlanningLifesciencesCross-functional Team LeadershipFrom Karen's professional profile.
Deals · 1
VentureMed GroupBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Feb 2025 · $7.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
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
Isaac Zike
Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners
Jared Rutter
Scientific Advisor; Professor of Biochemistry and HHMI Investigator, University of Utah at RiverVest Venture Partners
Network1
Investors connected to Karen in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Karen Spilizewski?
- Karen Spilizewski is a biomedical engineer by training who works in life science venture capital at RiverVest Venture Partners. She joined the firm when its Cleveland office opened, giving RiverVest improved access to deal flow and due diligence resources. She was later promoted to managing director as part of a firm-wide advancement of team members. Her work centers on advancing medical technologies through development and into commercial use.
- Where does Karen Spilizewski work?
- Karen Spilizewski is Managing Director at RiverVest Venture Partners and Board director at VentureMed Group.
- What boards does Karen Spilizewski sit on?
- Karen Spilizewski holds tracked board seats at VentureMed Group.
- Where did Karen Spilizewski go to school?
- Karen Spilizewski studied at Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (Master of Business Administration (MBA)); Case Western Reserve University (Master of Science (MS), Polymer Science); Case Western Reserve University (Bachelor of Science (BS), Biomedical/Medical Engineering).
- What awards has Karen Spilizewski received?
- Was promoted to managing director at RiverVest as part of a firm-wide advancement of team members.
Same school
Also attended Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University35
Chris HocevarExecutive Partner at Flare Capital PartnersMara BabinInvestor at Golden SeedsTejas ManiarInvestor at Mayfield FundSri PangulurInvestor at Mayfield FundCraig CimoroniHead of Business Development and Investor Relations at BTECH CONSORTIUMKathy HeflinChief Financial Officer at JumpStart Ventures
+ 29 more
Also attended Case Western Reserve University75
Will BruneSenior Associate at Mutual Capital PartnersKT MooreAdvisor at Clear VenturesPete KoomenGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorAsheem ChandnaPartner at Greylock focused on enterprise, cybersecurity, and infrastructure softwareMatt SteinChief Information Officer at Flare Capital PartnersHamid RateghVenture Technology Director at Samsung Catalyst Fund
+ 69 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 PartnersIsaac ZikeManaging Director at RiverVest Venture PartnersPascal KroteePrincipal, Ph.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners
+ 4 more
