Fundraising Fox

Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt

Investor

CEO – Radial at Astera Institute

California

Writes $500K – $40M checks · typically $20M

About

CEO of Radial with extensive experience scaling scientific innovation across academic research, industrial R&D, and venture capital. Previously an Investing Partner at a16z Bio + Health, and held roles as R&D Scientist and Business Development leader at Amgen. She has a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and a B.S. from MIT.

Experience

  1. Astera InstituteCEO - Radialcurrent2025 — presentEmeryville, CA
  2. Arcadia ScienceTranslational Advisorcurrent2021 — present
  3. Andreessen HorowitzInvestor2021 — 2025
  4. AmgenSenior Manager | Business Development2017 — 2021South San Francisco
  5. AmgenScientist | Discovery Research2016 — 2017South San Francisco
  6. GenentechPostdoctoral Research Fellow2011 — 2015South San Francisco
  7. UC BerkeleyPhD Student in Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Development2005 — 2011
  8. PromegaResearch Scientist2004 — 2005Madison, Wisconsin
  9. MITUndergraduate Research Assistant2003 — 2004Angelika Amon's lab, Center for Cancer Research
  10. Institut PasteurResearch Intern2003Paris, France

Education

  1. University of California, BerkeleyPhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology2005 — 2011
  2. Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyB.S., Biology2000 — 2004
  3. Middleton High School1996 — 2000

Skills & more

Genetics41Molecular Cloning18Molecular Biology21Cell Culture17Cell Biology17Biochemistry12Microscopy9Research5Biotechnology8Protein Expression6PCR5qPCR5
+12 moreCancer GenomicsWestern BlottingMass SpectrometryProteomicsCellMolecular & Cellular BiologyGenomicsDrug DiscoveryAntibodiesOncologyAssay DevelopmentPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Languages English · French

  • R Programming — Coursera Course Certificates

From Rebecca's professional profile.

Colleagues at Astera Institute

Anika Gupta
COO – Foundation at Astera Institute
Dileep George
Head of AI Research at Astera Institute
Doris Tsao
Chief Scientist – Neuro at Astera Institute
Eli Dourado
Head of Strategic Investments at Astera Institute
Jed McCaleb
Investor at Pantera Capital
Prachee Avasthi
Head of Open Science at Astera Institute
Seemay Chou
Co-Founder & President – Foundation at Astera Institute

Frequently asked questions

Where does Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt work?
Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt is CEO – Radial at Astera Institute.
What check size does Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt write?
Rebecca (Becky) Pferdehirt typically writes checks of $500K – $40M.

Same school

Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,341

Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersTrevor OelschigInvestment Team at General CatalystBrendan Bulik-SullivanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Glen AndersonPartner at Monta Vista CapitalAnthony LinHead of Intel Capital, Corporate Vice President at Intel CapitalScott ShawChief of Staff at Intel Capital

+ 1,335 more

Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,281

Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars

+ 1,275 more

Also attended Middleton High School2

Michael MounajjedFounder, CEO at DurateWarren ShepardFounder at Control Seat

Shared employers

Also worked at Amgen60

Seth LieblichInvestment Team at 8VCSean BruichChief Technology Officer at Flare Capital PartnersSteph ScottVice President at Questa CapitalBeth SeidenbergFounding Managing Director at Westlake Village BioPartnersKelli McKeirnanDirector of Administration at Westlake Village BioPartnersDesmond PadhiOperating Partner at Westlake Village BioPartners

+ 54 more

Also worked at Genentech95

David SchenkeinInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Karthik ArdhanareeswaranInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Marco PrunottoInvestor at MedicxiLogan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechJosephine ChenInvestor at Sequoia CapitalAbbie CelnikerInvestor at Third Rock Ventures

+ 89 more

Also worked at UC Berkeley288

Paul JennyBoard Chair at CincyTechAndrea van ElsasInvestor at Third Rock VenturesMichael PerezDeputy General Counsel at Mucker CapitalFreada Kapor KleinFounding Partner at Kapor CapitalUlili OnovakpuriManaging Partner at Kapor CapitalRoseanneCo-founder at Renegade Partners

+ 282 more

Also worked at MIT442

Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringVyas RamananVenture Partner at Third Rock VenturesRhie LimPartner, Global Strategy at One Way Ventures

+ 436 more