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INVO Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program

INVO's Entrepreneur-in-Residene (EIR) program was founded in 2012 to bring experienced entrepreneurs to the University to advise and assist students and faculty as they launch startups or explore commercialization of research. The EIRs serve as a great resource for developing business concepts, making contacts with the market, connecting to investors, and sorting through founder and team issues. The EIR program is a key part of our entrepreneurial knowledge base, and a link to the broader commercial ecosystem in Chicago and beyond.

EIRs are funded for a full-time, one-year position dedicated to spinout startups with Northwestern technologies and to mentor Northwestern faculty and students.  INVO EIRs focus primarily on working with faculty entrepreneurs. 

Apply for the program

The INVO EIR program reviews EIR applications on a rolling basis.  For more information, please contact us at invo@northwestern.edu

Past Entrepreneurs-in-Residence

Andrew Mazar, PhD

Andrew has over 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry experience in translational medicine including the design, discovery and pre-clinical and clinical development of small molecules, peptides and biologics at Abbott, Attenuon and Angstorm Pharmaceuticals.  H for the treatment of cancer and other angiogenesis and inflammation-dependent diseases including Crohn’s and acute and chronic lung injury/disease.  Andrew has started several companies including Monopar Therapeutics, Lung Therapeutics, and Tactic Pharmaceutical. Andrew received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois- College of Medicine. 

While at Northwestern's Chemistry of LIfe Processes Institute, he founded Actuate Therapeutics and Pamdeca.

Nat Harrison, MBA

Nat has experience in managing and advising businesses in the life sciences, materials, chemicals, and energy sectors. He was previously part of the management team that built TetraVitae Bioscience, a life sciences and chemicals technology business acquired by Eastman Chemical. Before joining TetraVitae, he worked for the Boston Consulting Group, advising Fortune 1000 companies on strategic and operational questions.  Nat earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a AB, magna cum laude, from Harvard University.

Nat founded Starsight commercializing technology developed by McCormick Professor Hooman Mohseni.

Mike Janse, MBA

Mike has focused his career on early stage technology startups, concentrating in advanced semiconductor products, communications infrastructure, and novel materials.  He was a managing director in Palo Alto with Harris & Harris Group, an advanced materials-focused venture capital firm. Mike was previously a principal with ARCH Venture Partners in Chicago, a venture capital firm that has expertise in starting companies from academic and research lab technologies.  Prior to ARCH, Mike worked in Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector as a process engineer.  Mike received his BS in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and his MBA from the University of Chicago- Booth School of Business.

Mike founded Zzyzx Polymers, commercializing technology developed by McCormick Professor John Torkelson.

Cristian Acosta, MBA

Cristian has over 10 years of management consulting experience in go-to-market strategies, product development and operational excellence in the healthcare and technology sectors.  He founded LAACMA Consulting in 2004 where he has driven consistent double digit top and bottom line growth while working with senior executives to effectively scale growing organizations, turn around underperforming organizations, and commercialize new opportunities.  Prior to LAACMA, Christian consulted for The Boston Consulting Group.  Cristian earned his MBA from The Wharton School of Business and his BSE in Systems Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.