His background includes roles in strategy consulting, early-stage companies, venture capital and pharmaceuticals.
Monash University has appointed Ingmar Wahlqvist as senior director of new ventures and investments to lead the Australian institution’s pre-seed investment fund and support spinout companies.
As part of the university’s tech transfer and commercialisation division Monash Innovation, Wahlqvist will be responsible for growing the university’s investment activities and expanding its portfolio of spinouts.
Monash invests in startups through a $15m pre-seed fund, both directly and in partnership with Breakthrough Victoria, a private investment company for the state of Victoria.
“We are delighted to be able to welcome Ingmar to Monash as we look to build on our success of spin outs and early stage investing,” Alastair Hick, chief commercialisation officer of Monash Innovation, said.
Wahlqvist joins the team following his longstanding role in the investment team of Australasian venture capital firm Brandon Capital, where he focused on investing in and commercialising life science and healthcare companies including PolyActiva, Denteric and George Medicines.
With a background as a medical doctor and an MBA degree, Wahlqvist has previously held roles in strategy consulting, early-stage companies, pharmaceuticals and venture capital.
“Monash University has a very strong research pipeline, an enterprising mindset and a driving ambition to achieve significant impact through its spinout companies. The existing portfolio of Monash spinouts has attracted strong investment and is already making its mark,” Ingmar Wahlqvist, said.
“I look forward to building on this, working constructively with scientific founders, current and future co-investors and the broader innovation ecosystem.”
The Monash pre-seed fund was launched in September 2023 to invest in Monash University opportunities on a rolling basis and provides access to networks, expertise and mentoring.
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