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Nelson Mills

Founder

Co-founder at VATN · Former Principal at Link Ventures

Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States

Writes $1M – $8M checks

FoundedVATN

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Ask Margaux Sullivan to introduce you to Nelson

You →Margaux · together at Link Ventures (2022–2023) →Nelson

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You →Jamie · 5 people · together at Lux Capital →Nelson

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About

Nelson Mills blends hands-on engineering and manufacturing experience—including leading hull development at Pure Watercraft—with venture experience, informed by a homeschooled, sailboat upbringing that fosters comfort with ambiguity and risk.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

Invests in

AI & Machine LearningConsumerFintechInsurTechMarketplaces

Co-founder at VATN

Intro paths

→

In turn, Nelson can intro founders to VATN's investors below.

VATN's investors · 23

Airbus VenturesMenlo Park · $1M checks · since 2025Backswing VenturesWindermere · since 2024Beyond CapitalSan Diego · since 2024Blue CollectiveBrooklyn · $250K – $2M checks · since 2024BVVCBurr Ridge · since 2025Capital FactoryAustin · since 2024Centre Street PartnersNew York · $100K – $500K checks · since 2024Champion Hill Ventures$500K – $1M checks · since 2024CoalitionCambridge · since 2024Cubit CapitalDallas · $500K – $3M checks · since 2024Dauntless VenturesHolladay · since 2024Decisive PointWashington · $500K – $1M checks · since 2024Geodesic CapitalSilicon Valley · since 2024In-Q-TelTysons · $100K – $2.5M checks · since 2024Infinite CapitalWest Palm Beach · since 2024IronGate Capital AdvisorsNew York · since 2024Lockheed Martin VenturesBethesda · since 2024Marque VenturesAlameda · since 2024Propeller VCJamaica Plain · $100K – $10M checks · since 2024Raptor GroupMiami Beach · since 2024The Veteran FundSan Francisco · $500K – $2M checks · since 2024Trousdale VenturesWest Hollywood · $1M – $5M checks · since 2024Veteran Ventures CapitalMcLean · $50K – $250K checks · since 2024

Co-founders at VATN

FMFrederick Mills
Frederick MillsFounder
GM
Geoff ManchesterCo-founder
DH
Dan HendrixCo-founder

Experience

  1. Vatn SystemsCEOcurrent2023 — presentPortsmouth, Rhode Island, United States
  2. URI College of EngineeringAdvisory Councilcurrent2025 — present
  3. TandymAngel Investor2021 — 2025
  4. Link VenturesPrincipal2022 — 2023New York City Metropolitan Area
  5. Columbia Venture FellowsManaging Director2020 — 2022New York, United States
  6. D4 VenturesVenture Scout2021 — 2022
  7. Lux CapitalVenture Associate2021
  8. Global Founders CapitalInvestor2020 — 2021New York, United States
  9. Mills ConsultingConsultant/Founder2018 — 2020
  10. Pure WatercraftProject Lead2017 — 2018Greater Seattle Area
  11. SmartMouth CommunicationsDirector of Innovation2015 — 2017Salt Lake City
  12. SmartMouth CommunicationsAssociate2014 — 2015Salt Lake City
  13. Fairweather & Mills, LLCPartner/Co-Founder2009 — 2011New York, New York
  14. Gorayeb & Associates, P.C.Intern2008 — 2009New York, New York

Skills & more

Management6Research6Public Speaking4Microsoft Excel1Social Media2Microsoft Office1Agile Project Management1Agile MethodologiesLeadershipStrategy2Market Research2Project Management1
+12 moreMicrosoft WordScrumProgram ManagementProduct DevelopmentProduct ManagementSQLData AnalysisProduct LaunchProduct MarketingProduct StrategyProduct Lifecycle ManagementBusiness Strategy

From Nelson's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nelson Mills?
Nelson Mills blends hands-on engineering and manufacturing experience—including leading hull development at Pure Watercraft—with venture experience, informed by a homeschooled, sailboat upbringing that fosters comfort with ambiguity and risk.
Where does Nelson Mills work?
Nelson Mills is Co-founder of VATN.
What does Nelson Mills invest in?
Nelson Mills invests in AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Fintech, InsurTech, Marketplaces.
What check size does Nelson Mills write?
Nelson Mills typically writes checks of $1M – $8M.
What companies did Nelson Mills found?
Nelson Mills founded VATN.
Where did Nelson Mills go to school?
Nelson Mills studied at Columbia Business School (MBA, Finance & Entrepreneurship); Columbia University (BA, Political Science); Trinity College Dublin (PhD Candidate, Political Science).

Founder mafias

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