Matt McIlwain
InvestorFounderManaging Director at Madrona Venture Group · Board director at Thira · Board director at Scala.ai, Inc. · Board director at Nautilus Biotechnology
Seattle, Washington
Writes $500K – $10M checks · typically $5M
About
Matt McIlwain is a Managing Director at Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. Before joining Madrona in 2000, he served as vice president of business process at the Genuine Parts Company, worked as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company on strategy and marketing in technology-driven sectors, and earlier held a role in investment banking at Credit Suisse. At Madrona, he invests in software and data-driven companies, with a focus on cloud computing, dataware, intelligent applications, and areas where life science and data science intersect. He has articulated a "Learning Loop" framework for entrepreneurs moving from curiosity through triangulation to decision making. He also serves on nonprofit boards, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, which he previously chaired, and the Washington Policy Center.
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- m•••@madrona.comreveal100% confident
Beyond investing
- Boards
- Matt McIlwain is a board member and previous chair of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Matt McIlwain is a board member of the Washington Policy Center.
From Matt's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Thira
Intro paths
In turn, Matt can intro founders to Thira's investors below.
Thira's investors · 2
Co-founders at Thira
Board director at Scala.ai, Inc.
Intro paths
In turn, Matt can intro founders to Scala.ai, Inc.'s investors below.
Scala.ai, Inc.'s investors · 1
Co-founders at Scala.ai, Inc.
Board director at Nautilus Biotechnology
Intro paths
In turn, Matt can intro founders to Nautilus Biotechnology's investors below.
Nautilus Biotechnology's investors · 4
Co-founders at Nautilus Biotechnology
Deals · 6
ThiraBoard seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Jul 2026 · $21M raise
Panorama Artificial Intelligence Corp.Board seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Jun 2026 · $65M raise
Scala.ai, Inc.Board seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Jan 2026 · $8.5M raise
Ozette Technologies, Inc.Board seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Feb 2021 · $6.1M raise
2ND WATCH HOLDING COMPANY, INC.Board seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Jul 2020 · $11.7M raise
Xnor.aiBoard seat
via Madrona Venture Group · filed Feb 2017 · $2.6M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
A-Alpha BioBooster FuelsEdgeRunner AIQumulo enterprise-saasRead AiSmartsheetTerraclearXetdata
Per SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Madrona Venture Group
Network7
Investors connected to Matt in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Matt McIlwain?
- Matt McIlwain is a Managing Director at Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. Before joining Madrona in 2000, he served as vice president of business process at the Genuine Parts Company, worked as an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company on strategy and marketing in technology-driven sectors, and earlier held a role in investment banking at Credit Suisse. At Madrona, he invests in software and data-driven companies, with a focus on cloud computing, dataware, intelligent applications, and areas where life science and data science intersect. He has articulated a "Learning Loop" framework for entrepreneurs moving from curiosity through triangulation to decision making. He also serves on nonprofit boards, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, which he previously chaired, and the Washington Policy Center.
- Where does Matt McIlwain work?
- Matt McIlwain is Managing Director at Madrona Venture Group and Board director at Thira and Board director at Scala.ai, Inc. and Board director at Nautilus Biotechnology.
- What check size does Matt McIlwain write?
- Matt McIlwain typically writes checks of $500K – $10M.
- What boards does Matt McIlwain sit on?
- Matt McIlwain holds tracked board seats at 2ND WATCH HOLDING COMPANY, INC., A-Alpha Bio, Booster Fuels, EdgeRunner AI, Ozette Technologies, Inc., Panorama Artificial Intelligence Corp., Qumulo enterprise-saas, Read Ai, Scala.ai, Inc., Smartsheet.