The symbiotic relationship between philanthropy and biotech venture capital offers a unique avenue to address the challenges posed by the high-risk, high-cost nature of biotechnology research and development. As Managing Director of the Myeloma Investment Fund, the philanthropic venture arm of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Stephanie Oestreich will discuss the importance of philanthropic venture capital in the realm of biotechnology, particularly in the face of the current challenging funding environment.

Stephanie Oestreich is Managing Director of the Investment Fund of the MMRF (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation) and serves on the boards of the German American Business Council in Boston and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women’s Network and is the chair of the McCloy Alumni Association. She is also on the faculty of MIT, a member of the Launchpad Venture Group, an advisor at grIP Venture Studio, to Biognosys (a Bruker company), Invitris, CART company CelineTx , Investment Fund Nekonal and to the drug development and investment company OrangeGrove Bio and a member of the W20 Entrepreneurship task force, the official engagement group of the G20.

Previously she was Chief Business Officer at Galecto (NASDAQ:GLTO), Vice President at cell therapy company Mnemo Therapeutics, a Venture Partner at RA Capital and Executive Vice President at Evotec (NASDAQ:EVO) where she built its North American investment arm and started an incubator with Samsara BioCapital.

Stephanie conducted the research for her Ph.D. in biochemistry in the lab of a Nobel Prize winner at Harvard Medical School and obtained an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School. As a semi-professional violinist, she performs with Philharmonic orchestras in Carnegie Hall and other international venues and conducts workshops with live orchestras, demonstrating the similarities between teams and leadership in music and management.

This event is hosted by the MIT Sloan Boston Alumni Association (MITSBAA). MITSBAA is an alumni-led 501-C3 non-profit. For more information and/or to volunteer, please visit www.mitsloanboston.com.

Our Women's Events Volunteer Committee includes:

Audrey Daum, SM '88, SBAA Board Co-Chair Women’s Events, Chair, Women and Wine Wednesdays & Senior Vice President – Investments, Moors & Cabot, abdaum@me.com
Sun Altbach, MBA '11, Advisor, LVF VC, sg.altbach@gmail.com
Monica Kothari, MBA '19, Regions Lead, Campus Strategy, Capital One, monicakothari23@gmail.com
Dr. Irena Lucifredi, PhD '05, President, SOFAR Acoustics, LLC, ilucifredi@sofaracoustics.com
Katie Manty, SM '02, VP, Omnichannel Strategy, kmmanty@yahoo.com
Tina Kruczynski, Program Manager, MITSBAA, tina@mitsloanboston.com

Women & Wine Wednesdays - Collaborative Networking