The Femtech funds she leads aim to provide impact investment in areas that women think are important and provide outsized venture capital returns.
WOODSIDE, CA, August 15, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Nola E. Masterson, MSc, has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Masterson is a lead investor with Portfolia, a venture capital firm that empowers women to invest in venture capital. In her six years with the company, the funds have invested in 140 companies, many of which she has sourced, and 90 percent of the investors in the funds are women. Portfolia consists of 16 funds, and Ms. Masterson concentrates on its three “Femtech” funds. Her expertise in investment and venture capital has been pivotal in moving projects forward, securing essential funding, and forging meaningful connections.
Portfolia is open to any high net worth individual or family offices. The Femtech funds that Ms. Masterson leads aim to provide impact investment in areas that women think are important and provide outsized venture capital returns. Ms. Masterson has been an active investor in venture capital for over 40 years. She is especially passionate about getting more women into positions with boards of directors. Additionally, she is a partner with BoardWise and conducts board training programs regularly.
After a successful career in sales management at Millipore Corporation, Ms. Masterson founded Science Futures Inc. in 1983 and later became the managing director of Science Futures Management Co., LLC., managing her first venture fund in 1993. She was the first analyst on Wall Street for the biotechnology industry in 1983 with Drexel, Burnham, Lambert, and Merrill Lynch for eight years. Also in 1993, she became the co-founder and chief executive officer of Sequenom, which went public in 2000 and enabled the precise analysis of DNA. She joined TVM Capital as a venture partner in 2000, after collaborating with them to build Sequenom for seven years. She continued to invest in pharmaceuticals, life science tools and diagnostics. The innovative instrument developed by Sequenom enabled the application of NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing). She joined the publicly traded company, Repros Therapeutics in 2004 and became the chair of the board in 2010. Since 2021, Ms. Masterson has served on the boards of directors for Pacylex Pharmaceuticals Inc. and ZIVO Bioscience Inc., where she has been a board member since 2014. She has multiple publications and is a frequent speaker at financial industry events.
Ms. Masterson’s academic background laid a strong foundation for her illustrious career. She earned a Master of Science in biological sciences from George Washington University in 1972 and a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry from Marymount College of Fordham University in 1969. Her educational journey was profoundly influenced by her experience at the all-girls school, where inspirational female teachers instilled in her the belief that college was just the beginning, and that graduate school was the next step.
In addition to her professional achievements, Ms. Masterson holds several certifications that have further enhanced her capabilities. She completed the Maximize Your Board’s Potential program at the Harvard Faculty Club through The Decision Institute in 2019 and is an advanced professional director certified by the American College of Corporate Directors.
Ms. Masterson’s commitment to civic engagement is evident through her various roles. She has been co-chair of the Women Corporate Directors Foundation’s Northern California Chapter since 2014 and serves on the board of directors for the American Diabetes Association Community Leaders Board of Silicon Valley. In recognition of her many achievements, Ms. Masterson has received numerous awards, including the 2004 Irish American Award and 2003 Marymount College Alumnae of Achievement Award.
Outside of her professional life, Ms. Masterson enjoys oil painting, horseback riding, camping, and singing. She has been the president of the Los Viajeros Riding Club, and she continues to enjoy trail riding. Above all, she is passionate about empowering women through venture capital and believes that organizations like Portfolia can change the game by encouraging more women with financial resources to invest in shaping the future they envision. She is confident that women should lead the way in transforming health care systems and driving essential research on women’s health.
For more information on Portfolia, please visit www.portfolia.co
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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