David Morganthaler

Morganthaler founded Morgenthaler Ventures in 1968 and over 31 years has built a national reputation in venture capital. His current investment focus is on biotechnology.

He is Chairman of the Board of Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has been a director of a large number of companies, ranging in size from the startup stage to large public companies.

Between 1957 and 1968, he was President of Foseco, Inc., a venture-backed manufacturer of specialty chemicals. From 1950 to 1957, he was Vice President and Director of Sales at Delavan Manufacturing Company, which became the largest manufacturer of jet aircraft fuel injection nozzles in the world. Previously, he was an entrepreneurial manager with several growth companies.

He was an Advisor to the Brentwood Associates Fund, and Vice Chariman of the Edison Biotechnology Institute. He is serving or has served as a Trustee of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, a member of the Visiting Committee of Carnegie Mellon University, the Sloan School of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University, and a trustee of various philanthropic organizations. He served as Senior Vice President-International for the Young Presidents’ Organization and as President of the Chief Executives Organization.

Morganthaler was President of the National Venture Capital Association when the capital gains tax reduction was enacted in 1978, and played a leading role in testifying before Congress for the new legislation. He has frequently been asked to testify before Congress, and to speak before various administrative groups on venture capital and economic development.

He is the first recipient of the National Venture Capital Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and more recently was inducted into The Private Equity Analysts Venture Capital Hall of Fame.

He is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering).