Niall O'Donnell
InvestorPh.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners · Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc · Board director at Wugen · Board director at Spruce Biosciences
San Diego
About
Niall O'Donnell is a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners, which he joined in 2006 as a Kauffman Fellow before being promoted to managing director in 2014. Trained as a biochemist and immunologist, he began his career at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development in San Diego working on small-molecule anti-inflammatory drugs. At RiverVest he helped build the firm's biopharmaceutical strategy, founded or co-founded five biopharma companies, co-invented patents, and helped raise more than $1 billion for early-stage rare-disease and unmet-need companies. He drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals from Lumena assets and currently sits on the boards of several portfolio companies including Engrail, Atalanta, Glycomine, Sparrow, and Allotera Therapeutics.
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Founded or co-founded five biopharmaceutical companies while at RiverVest. Helped found and develop the clinical strategy for Curzion Pharmaceuticals and Excaliard Pharmaceuticals. Drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals after spinning Lumena assets out of Takeda in 2018.
- Education
- Earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee, Scotland. Earned an M.A. in Biochemistry from Pembroke College, Oxford. Completed postdoctoral work at the University of California, San Diego. Earned an MBA from the University of California, San Diego – Rady School of Management.
- Communities
- Joined RiverVest as a Kauffman Fellow in 2006.
- Awards
- Received the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Achievement Award from the Rady School in 2024.
From Niall's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc
Intro paths
In turn, Niall can intro founders to Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc's investors below.
Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc's investors · 2
Board director at Wugen
Intro paths
In turn, Niall can intro founders to Wugen's investors below.
Wugen's investors · 8
Board director at Spruce Biosciences
Intro paths
In turn, Niall can intro founders to Spruce Biosciences's investors below.
Spruce Biosciences's investors · 6
Experience
- OxxPartnercurrent2022 — presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- OxxPrincipal2020 — 2022Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- rembergInvestor and Board Directorcurrent2024 — presentMunich, Bavaria, Germany
- CyberSmartInvestor and Board Directorcurrent2022 — presentGreater London, England, United Kingdom
- LighticoInvestor and Board Observercurrent2020 — presentTel Aviv District, Israel
- Black Swan DataInvestor and Board Director2022 — 2025Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- BeringeaInvestment Manager2018 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- BeringeaInvestment Associate2016 — 2018Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Second NatureInvestor and Board Director2019 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- CreativeXInvestor and Board Observer2019 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- SimplestreamBoard Director2019 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- AccessPayInvestor and Board Observer2018 — 2020Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- LexisNexis CipherInvestor and Board Observer2018 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- FesticketInvestor and Board Observer2018 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- FnaticInvestor and Board Observer2018 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- BeenThereDoneThatInvestor and Board Observer2017 — 2020Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- WatchfinderBoard Observer2017 — 2018Maidstone, England, United Kingdom
- OC&C Strategy ConsultantsAssociate Consultant2014 — 2016Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Bank of America Merrill LynchAnalyst2012Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Bank of EnglandAnalyst2009 — 2011Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Skills & more
From Niall's professional profile.
Deals · 2
Genoa PharmaceuticalsBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Oct 2023 · $189.2M raise
Lyric PharmaceuticalsBoard seat
via RiverVest Venture Partners · filed Apr 2017 · $33.9M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Allotera Therapeutics (formerly Wugen)Amplyx PharmaceuticalsAtalanta TherapeuticsAvalyn PharmaCurzion Pharmaceuticals IncEngrail TherapeuticsGlycomineSparrow PharmaSparrow PharmaceuticalsSpruce BiosciencesSpruce BiosciencesWugenWugen
Investor
Curzion PharmaceuticalsExcaliard PharmaceuticalsLumena PharmaceuticalsMirum PharmaceuticalsReneo PharmaceuticalsZiarco
Sources: the investor's own website · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at RiverVest Venture Partners
Network1
Investors connected to Niall in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Niall O'Donnell?
- Niall O'Donnell is a managing director at RiverVest Venture Partners, which he joined in 2006 as a Kauffman Fellow before being promoted to managing director in 2014. Trained as a biochemist and immunologist, he began his career at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development in San Diego working on small-molecule anti-inflammatory drugs. At RiverVest he helped build the firm's biopharmaceutical strategy, founded or co-founded five biopharma companies, co-invented patents, and helped raise more than $1 billion for early-stage rare-disease and unmet-need companies. He drove the creation of Mirum Pharmaceuticals from Lumena assets and currently sits on the boards of several portfolio companies including Engrail, Atalanta, Glycomine, Sparrow, and Allotera Therapeutics.
- Where does Niall O'Donnell work?
- Niall O'Donnell is Ph.D. at RiverVest Venture Partners and Board director at Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc and Board director at Wugen and Board director at Spruce Biosciences.
- What boards does Niall O'Donnell sit on?
- Niall O'Donnell holds tracked board seats at Allotera Therapeutics (formerly Wugen), Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Atalanta Therapeutics, Avalyn Pharma, Curzion Pharmaceuticals Inc, Engrail Therapeutics, Genoa Pharmaceuticals, Glycomine, Lyric Pharmaceuticals, Sparrow Pharma.
- What companies has Niall O'Donnell invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Curzion Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Lumena Pharmaceuticals, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Reneo Pharmaceuticals, Ziarco.
- Where did Niall O'Donnell go to school?
- Niall O'Donnell studied at University of Cambridge (M.A. (Cantab), Economics and Management Studies); Berkhamsted School (High School).
- What awards has Niall O'Donnell received?
- Received the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Achievement Award from the Rady School in 2024.
Same school
Also attended University of Cambridge1,143
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Shared employers
Also worked at Oxx13
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