Aaron Jacobson
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Aaron Jacobson is a Partner at NEA focused on AI, cybersecurity, developer tools, and robotics. He joined NEA in 2011 and invests across seed/early and growth stages.
Bio
Professional summary
Ed Mathers is a Partner on NEA’s healthcare team. NEA says he has been at the firm since 2008 and focuses on biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticals investments. His official profile lists seed/early and growth as stages and includes healthcare as his sector. Before NEA, he served as EVP of Corporate Development and Venture at MedImmune, helped execute its sale to AstraZeneca, held licensing and acquisition roles at Inhale Therapeutic Systems, and spent 15 years at Glaxo Wellcome. He describes his healthcare interests as cutting-edge technologies across gene therapy, nonviral gene therapy, RNA editing, and immunology and inflammation.
Investment focus
Stage, sector, and overall fit
Stage
Seed/EarlyGrowth
Sector
HealthcareBiotechnologySpecialty pharmaceuticalsGene therapyRNA editingImmunology and inflammation
Thesis
Biotechnology and specialty pharmaceuticalsGene therapy, nonviral gene therapy, RNA editing, and immunology and inflammationHealthcare companies from seed/early through growth
Notable companies
Selected portfolio companies the partner has backed
AkouosAmplyx PharmaceuticalsCardurion PharmaceuticalsInversago PharmaLiquidiaMBX BiosciencesMirum PharmaceuticalsObsEvaRa PharmaceuticalsRhythm PharmaceuticalsSpliceBioSynlogic
How to approach
Framing and angles for outreach
Pitch framing
Pitch him with a rigorous biopharma company-building plan, strong scientific rationale, and a long-term development strategy for transformative healthcare technology.
Personalization hooks
- 1Reference his stated long-term, patient approach to company building.
- 2For gene therapy or RNA editing companies, connect directly to the areas he says excite him in healthcare.
- 3Mention his MedImmune corporate development background if the company has partnership, licensing, or M&A-relevant strategy.
Recent signals
What the partner has said or done recently
NEA’s current profile lists 2024 first investments in Brenig and Cardurion Pharmaceuticals and a 2025 first investment in Orbis Medicines.
NEA’s current profile lists MBX Biosciences as a 2020 first investment with current status IPO/Public on NASDAQ: MBX.
Background
Career, education, and skills
Career history
- NEAPartner2008 - Present
- MedImmuneEVP of Corporate Development and Venture
- Inhale Therapeutic SystemsVP of Marketing and Corporate Licensing and Acquisitions
- Glaxo WellcomeSales and marketing roles15 years
Skills
Healthcare investingBiotechnologySpecialty pharmaceuticalsCorporate developmentVenture investingLicensing and acquisitionsCompany buildingBiopharma commercialization
Other partners at New Enterprise Associates
12 more profiles
Alex Sharata
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA growth Partner investing across enterprise, fintech, consumer, and AI.
Alexa Grabelle
Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Associate focused on early-stage AI, consumer tech and fintech.
Andrew Schoen
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Andrew Schoen is a Partner at NEA investing in AI/ML, cybersecurity, fintech, frontier and deep tech, and technically differentiated software. His official NEA profile tags him for Technology, Growth, and Seed/Early.
Arjun Jain
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA technology Partner focused on consumer and enterprise investments.
Ashley Jepson
Senior Analyst
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Analyst investing in data and AI infrastructure.
Aya Somai
Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Associate investing in early-stage technology companies.
Ayush Goradia
Senior Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Associate focused on enterprise and consumer technology.
Blake Wu
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
Blake Wu is a Partner at NEA focused on digital health, healthcare services, healthcare IT, and biopharmaceuticals. His official NEA profile tags him under Healthcare, Life Sciences, Digital Health, Seed/Early, and Growth.
Carmen Chang
Partner, Head of Asia
New Enterprise Associates
Partner and Head of Asia at NEA focused on technology investing across China, emerging Asia, the US, and Europe.
Danielle Ezratty
Senior Associate
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Senior Associate focused on digital health investing.
Danielle Lay
Partner
New Enterprise Associates
NEA Partner investing in AI companies across consumer and enterprise.