About
Sara Risch is a Partner at Redwood Innovation Partners who specializes in life sciences commercialization and venture development. With over a decade of experience, she has supported the evaluation, advancement, and strategic funding of health innovations, helping technologies from academic and health system settings progress toward commercial viability. She holds a PhD and has background expertise in microbiology, virology, intellectual property, early-stage funding, and ecosystem partnerships.
Experience
- Redwood Innovation PartnersPartnercurrent2026 — present
- CincyTechConsultantcurrent2025 — present
- SR Innovation ConsultingFoundercurrent2025 — present
- Rev1 VenturesManaging Director, Venture Development2022 — 2025
- Rev1 VenturesDirector, Venture Development2021 — 2022
- University of MichiganBiomedical Innovation Specialist2017 — 2021
- OhioHealthCommercialization Associate2016 — 2017
- Nationwide Childrens HospitalTechnology Transfer Intern2015
- Nationwide Childrens HospitalGraduate Research Associate2010 — 2015
- Kent State UniversityUndergraduate Research Aide2007 — 2009
Education
- The Ohio State UniversityDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Biomedical Sciences2009 — 2015
- Kent State UniversityBachelor's Degree, Molecular Biology2005 — 2009
Skills & more
StrategyCommunicationPublic Speaking3Strategic PlanningProject ManagementMicrobiology3Intellectual Property1Technology Transfer2Commercialization2Life Sciences2Data AnalysisTechnical Writing
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BiotechnologyTeachingVirologyTranslational ResearchMicrosoft OfficeFrom Sara's professional profile.
Same school
Also attended The Ohio State University84
Keatten SmithCapital Formation Coordinator at March Capital PartnersJohn Rice, Ph.D.Partner Emeritus at CincyTechWill McKelveyPrincipal at Lerer HippeauSuresh BalasubramanianInvestor at Storm VenturesJohn D. SimonExecutive Venture Partner at Caduceus Capital PartnersSachi SanghaviJunior Analyst at JobsOhio Ventures
+ 78 more
Also attended Kent State University11
Brent BlakeVenture Partner at TFX CapitalAkhil SaklechaAdvisor - Healthtech at Augment VenturesBrianne KimmelFounder & Managing Partner at Worklife VenturesTiffany YoutchokoAssociate at Xcellerant VenturesCarrie WintersExecutive Assistant at Prime Impact FundTJ KlineInvestor at Xcellerant Ventures
+ 5 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Rev1 Ventures13
John HrivnakOperations Director, National Security at Red Cell IncubationParker MacDonellAdvisory Partner at Rev1 VenturesMatt CynkarManaging Director, Market Intelligence & Data Analytics at Rev1 VenturesJulia DeweyChief Partnerships Officer at Rev1 VenturesAlicia OddiManaging Director, Venture Services at Rev1 VenturesMark SharyManaging Partner at Tamarind Hill
+ 7 more
Also worked at University of Michigan67
Alexandra FarmerPrincipal at Intel Capital, North AmericaLogan HilleLife Sciences Analyst at CincyTechPeter GiordanoFormer Global Director GTM Strategy at Scale Venture PartnersPaul BrownManaging Director at eLab VenturesDoug NealManaging Director at eLab VenturesZack UrlockerInvestor at Index Ventures
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