Giovanni A. Ferrara

Venture Partner

Prior to joining Burrill & Company, Giovanni A. Ferrara was Manager at GeneChem Management, a healthcare venture capital firm, where he led several syndicated investments in Canada and the US. Apart from his regular investment and board responsibilities, he also held interim operating positions in portfolio companies and worked closely with BioChem Pharma’s CSO and business development team in sourcing and pursuing in-licensing opportunities, which led to two of BioChem’s largest deals, having achieved approximately $95 million in business development transactions.

Prior to joining the venture capital community, he was a financial analyst at Letko, Brosseau & Associates, a leading asset management firm. He began his career in healthcare as a pharmacist at a private cancer treatment center in Toronto focusing on experimental therapies. Mr. Ferrara completed his MBA in Finance and International Business and MSc in Physiology at McGill University, and his BSc in Biology and Genetics at the University of Toronto. He serves on the Boards of Directors of Alinea Pharmaceutical, Nanovasc, Nucleonics, CardioKine (observer), and Light Sciences Oncology (observer). He is also a member of the Advisory Board of ITI Life Sciences and a Trustee of the Molecular Sciences Institute.