Van N. Truskett
InvestorVenture Discovery Director, Generation Food Rural Partners at Big Idea Ventures
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Writes $1M – $6M checks · typically $3M
About
Venture Discovery Director with extensive academic and commercial experience in technology innovation and nanotechnology. She was director of jetting technology at Molecular Imprints (acquired by Canon Japan in 2014) and previously led the Texas Innovation Center. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins and is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Experience
- Big Idea VenturesVenture Discovery Directorcurrent2024 — presentAnn Arbor, Michigan, United States
- National Academy of InventorsFellowcurrent2021 — present
- BioCloak, Inc.Member Board of Directors2025 — 2026United States
- PlantSustain, Inc.Member Board of Directors (Acquired by Frontera Ag)2024 — 2026United States
- The University of Texas at AustinAssociate Professor of Practice2021 — 2024McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering
- The University of Texas at AustinDirector - Technology Innovation Development2022 — 2023
- The University of Texas at AustinExecutive Director - Texas Innovation Center2019 — 2023The Texas Innovation Center
- The University of Texas at AustinDirector - Technology Innovation Development2021 — 2022
- The University of Texas at AustinDirector - Technology Innovation Development2017 — 2021
- Canon Nanotechnologies, IncDirector of Jetting Technology2014 — 2017Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
- Molecular Imprints, Inc.Jetting Technology Manager2002 — 2014Austin, Texas Metropolitan Area
- Johns Hopkins University - Chemical Engineering DepartmentNASA Graduate Research Fellow1996 — 2002
Education
- The Johns Hopkins UniversityPhD, Chemical Engineering1996 — 2002
- The University of Texas at AustinBS, Chemical Engineering1991 — 1996
Skills & more
Materials12Lithography14Semiconductors18Nanotechnology26Data Analysis3Chemical Engineering12Engineering6Nanoparticles3Design of Experiments11Characterization8R&D9Thin Films9
+8 more
MEMSMaterials ScienceProduct DevelopmentResearch and Development (R&D)ManufacturingCross-functional Team LeadershipDesign of Experiments (DOE)ExperimentationFrom Van's professional profile.
Colleagues at Big Idea Ventures
Adrien Villalonga
Associate at Big Idea Ventures
Andrew Ive
Managing Partner at Big Idea Ventures
Bill Arnold
Venture Discovery Director, Generation Food Rural Partners at Big Idea Ventures
Caroline Mak
Program Director, NYC Accelerator at Big Idea Ventures
Christian Cadeo
Managing Partner at Big Idea Ventures
Dhanesh Alagarsamy
Investment Associate at Big Idea Ventures
Elsa Swanson Sareen
Vice President, Generation Food Rural Partners at Big Idea Ventures
Emily Linett
Director of Investor Relations at Big Idea Ventures
Network1
Investors connected to Van in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Van N. Truskett work?
- Van N. Truskett is Venture Discovery Director, Generation Food Rural Partners at Big Idea Ventures.
- What check size does Van N. Truskett write?
- Van N. Truskett typically writes checks of $1M – $6M.
Same school
Also attended The Johns Hopkins University245
Wes NicholsPartner at March Capital PartnersDemi ObayomiPrincipal at Sapphire VenturesJun JeonInvestor at Khosla VenturesNicole FraenkelInvestor at Khosla VenturesElena VibochManaging Director at General CatalystScott RubinVenture Partner at Lux Capital
+ 239 more
Also attended The University of Texas at Austin353
Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalTodd KleinManaging Partner, Revolution Growth at RevolutionSapna MehtaInvestor at RevolutionAaron LiuPrincipal at NorthzoneAndrew ScottSenior Finance Manager at GreycroftMichael HsuSenior Associate at Sapphire Ventures
+ 347 more
Shared employers
Also worked at BioCloak, Inc.2
Also worked at PlantSustain, Inc.2
Also worked at The University of Texas at Austin68
Viswa SankaranarayananVenture Partner at Monta Vista CapitalDougAdvisor at Clear VenturesMonica SolizDirector, Marketing at Sapphire VenturesAndrew WilsonPartner, Legal at Lux CapitalZaz FloreaniVenture Partner at FirstMile VenturesLorenzo ThioneGeneral Partner at Gaingels
+ 62 more
