Fundraising Fox

Melissa Fensterstock

Investor

Investor at Material Impact Β· Board director at Nohbo

New York City

Writes $100K – $5M checks Β· typically $1.5M

About

An operator with combined scientific and business experience focused on commercializing early-stage scientific innovations across life sciences, agtech, space tech, and brain-machine interfaces. Former CEO of Landsdowne Labs (an MIT spinout co-founded with Robert Langer) and executive in residence at Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Yale.

Invests in

AgTechBiotechDeep TechSpace Tech

Board director at Nohbo

Intro paths

β†’

In turn, Melissa can intro founders to Nohbo's investors below.

Nohbo's investors Β· 1

Material ImpactBoston Β· $100K – $10M checks Β· since 2020

Co-founders at Nohbo

BS
BENJAMIN STERNExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

  1. Material ImpactVCcurrent2023 β€” present
  2. Ripple FoodsBoard Directorcurrent2025 β€” present
  3. Connecticut PublicBoard Director / Trusteecurrent2023 β€” present
  4. Yale VenturesEIRcurrent2023 β€” present
  5. Digitalis CommonsExpert-in-Residence (XIR)2024 β€” 2026
  6. ClimateHavenEIR2024 β€” 2025
  7. Milken InstituteYoung Leaders Circle2023 β€” 2025
  8. Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV)Advisor2023 β€” 2024
  9. Columbia Technology VenturesExecutive in Residence2022 β€” 2023New York, New York, United States
  10. Landsdowne LabsChief Executive Officer2017 β€” 2023
  11. Peles Therapeutics, AplifeAdvisor/Cofounder - biotech/medtech2018 β€” 2021
  12. AromaflageCo Founder2013 β€” 2016
  13. IMMUNE Pharmaceuticals Ltd.Senior Director, Corporate Development2014 β€” 2015Greater New York City Area
  14. ElsevierManagement Associate2012 β€” 2014greater new york city area
  15. J.P. MorganSummer Associate- Healthcare Investment Banking2011Greater New York City Area
  16. StrykerRegulatory Affairs2009 β€” 2010

Skills & more

Lifesciences9Pharmaceutical Industry8Biotechnology30Due Diligence19Medical Devices21Molecular Biology2Product Launch1Mergers & Acquisitions10Strategy55Product Development7Business Development4Start-ups36
+12 moreManagementBusiness PlanningEntrepreneurshipCommercializationHealthcareCompetitive AnalysisMarketingCorporate DevelopmentStrategic PartnershipsProduct ManagementBusiness StrategyCross-functional Team Leadership

Languages Spanish

From Melissa's professional profile.

Colleagues at Material Impact

Adam Sharkawy
Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Material Impact
Alexa Horwitz
Director of Marketing and Communications at Material Impact
Ben Schlatka
Company Building Partner at Material Impact
Carmichael Roberts
Investor at Material Impact
Christian Theriault
Partner at Material Impact
Corinna Chen
Partner at Material Impact
Deborah Kilpatrick
Health IT CEO, Evidation at Material Impact
Ezgi Emiroglu
Venture Associate at Material Impact

Network1

Chuck Templeton
Managing Partner at S2G Investments

Investors connected to Melissa in public investor directories β€” a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Melissa Fensterstock?
An operator with combined scientific and business experience focused on commercializing early-stage scientific innovations across life sciences, agtech, space tech, and brain-machine interfaces. Former CEO of Landsdowne Labs (an MIT spinout co-founded with Robert Langer) and executive in residence at Johns Hopkins, Columbia, and Yale.
Where does Melissa Fensterstock work?
Melissa Fensterstock is Investor at Material Impact and Board director at Nohbo.
What does Melissa Fensterstock invest in?
Melissa Fensterstock invests in AgTech, Biotech, Deep Tech, Space Tech.
What check size does Melissa Fensterstock write?
Melissa Fensterstock typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
Where did Melissa Fensterstock go to school?
Melissa Fensterstock studied at Harvard Business School (MBA, Business Administration and Management); University of Cambridge (MPhil, Bioscience Enterprise); The Johns Hopkins University (Bachelor's degree, Neuroscience).

Founder mafias

Harvard Business School mafia323

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Mike Maples JrMBAFounded Pattern BreakersHristo BorisovOPM Class 64Founded PayhawkNoubar AfeyanVisiting LecturerFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12Wade MyersMBAFounded RealManage +5Harry GrunerFounded Hilos +2Ellen RubinMBAFounded ClearSky Data +2

+ 316 more

University of Cambridge mafia256

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Stewart ButterfieldMPhilFounded Flickr +1Demis HassabisBAFounded Google Deepmind +2Immad AkhundMaster of Arts (M.A.)Founded Clickpass +2Inaki BerenguerPhDFounded InfiniteWatch +2Harish AgarwalMaster of Philosophy - MPhilFounded Nori +2Nikola MrkőićDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)Founded Poly +2

+ 249 more

The Johns Hopkins University mafia58

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Christoph LengauerPostdocFounded Celsius Therapeutics +2Anne OsdoitMaster of Science (MS)Founded Moon Surgical +2Andrew LevyBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Apteligent +2Matt MichelsonB.S.Founded Evid Science +1Merrill AnovickB.A. with HonorsFounded Lynd Clinical +1Kanishk ParasharBSFounded Powder +1

+ 51 more

Horace Mann School mafia14

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Alexi Nazem, MDFounded Nomad HealthSchuster TangerFounded Deep Cogito Inc.James RubenHigh SchoolFounded HellosaurusEllen DaSilvaHigh SchoolFounded Summer HealthKeivan ShahidaFounded ResponseJustin BleuelHigh SchoolFounded Avenue

+ 7 more

Milkeninstitute mafia8

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Daniel KimerlingMilken Young Leaders CircleFounded Standard TreasuryMichael LangerMilken Institute Young LeaderFounded T.Rx CapitalAnthony LiverisYoung Leaders CircleFounded ApplecartJaeson MaYoung Leaders CircleFounded OpenWavWen-Wen LamResearch Assistant/InternFounded NexTravelNikhil PatelSteering Committee, DementiaFounded Craniometrix

+ 1 more

Same school

Also attended Harvard Business School2,000

Brad GerstnerFounder & CEO of Altimeter CapitalMamoon HamidPartner at Kleiner PerkinsNeeraj AgrawalGeneral Partner at Battery VenturesVictoria TreygerGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesDeep NisharInvestment Team at General CatalystAdrianna MaInvestor at Index Ventures

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Cambridge1,141

Stewart ButterfieldCo-founder of Slack and FlickrDemis HassabisCo-founder & CEO of Google DeepMindNiko BonatsosVerdict Capital founder and pre-consensus investor formerly at General CatalystGeorgia StevensonInvestor at Index VenturesHannah SealInvestor at Index VenturesLeah von SiemensPartner at Manta Ray Ventures

+ 1,135 more

Also attended The Johns Hopkins University328

Palmer LuckeyFounder & CTO of Anduril Industries; founder of Oculus VRNicole GaudelliEntrepreneur in Residence at GV (Google Ventures)Wes NicholsPartner at March Capital PartnersDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesJun JeonInvestor at Khosla VenturesNicole FraenkelInvestor at Khosla Ventures

+ 322 more

Also attended Horace Mann School37

Alexi Nazem, MDGeneral Partner at AlleyCorpZachary GinsburgVenture Partner, Calm Ventures at GaingelsSchuster TangerInvestor at Tq Ventures LlcSarah BallChief Compliance Officer at TCVEmma PayneVice President, People & Culture at Openspace VenturesAndre JabbanPartner and Head of Capital Formation at Prime Movers Lab

+ 31 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Connecticut Public1

Marie RochaCo-founder and General Partner at Realist Ventures

Also worked at Milken Institute62

Solomon HailuPartner at March Capital PartnersJeff WeinsteinPartner at FJ LabsDavid BorcsokPartner at Mucker CapitalJessica PouleurPartner at Openspace VenturesJaclyn SeowSpecialist Advisor, ESG & Impact at Openspace VenturesZachary CefarattiVenture Partner at Draper Associates

+ 56 more

Also worked at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV)8

Jeffrey CherryFounder at Conscious Venture LabDavid GreenwaldManaging Director at Deerfield Management CompanyMaria GuglielmoManager, Recruiting and Employee Experience at Deerfield Management CompanyChandra RamanathanAdvisor, Biotech at Iaso VenturesIsabelle HoltPlatform Associate, Network at Inspired CapitalGraham DodgeVice President, Venture Development at Maryland TEDCO

+ 2 more

Also worked at Columbia Technology Ventures19

Matthew McCooeChief Executive Officer at Connecticut InnovationsTristan HuntPartner at Averin CapitalKristina VulganCo-Founder & Managing Partner at Ferocity CapitalPaula SchultheissSenior Associate at AN Venture PartnersLyla YoussefAssociate at SR One Capital ManagementNeha AgarwalSenior Advisor at Adjuvant Capital

+ 13 more