David Washburn
President at Red Cedar Ventures
East Lansing, Michigan
Overview
Work Experience
Board Member
2024 - Current
Cambridge Enterprise is part of the University of Cambridge and responsible for supporting the translation of University research to create globally leading economic and social impact through licensing, startup company formation, early stage venture investing and innovation ecosystem development.
Executive Director
2014
The MSU Research Foundation manages a $500M+ endowment built from decades of licensing revenue. In addition to providing over $10 million in research grants annually, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on technology commercialization, economic development, placemaking and incubation. Through our subsidiary organizations - Spartan Innovations (SI), Red Cedar Ventures (RCV), Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III (MR), and developing select real estate assets – the MSU Research Foundation is a results oriented driver of dynamic partnerships in the Michigan State University Innovation ecosystem.
President & Board Director
2020
Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III is an early stage venture fund dedicated to helping launch tech start-ups across the state of Michigan. Based in East Lansing, the $20M early stage fund is the result of a partnership between the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Strategic Fund and the Michigan State University Research Foundation.
We provide debt, equity and purchase order financing for early-stage, high-tech businesses in Michigan, in partnership with the MEDC.
President & Board Director
2014
Red Cedar Ventures is the pre-seed and early stage venture arm of the Michigan State University Research Foundation. The entity helps startup companies commercializing technologies from Michigan State University overcome funding gaps, accelerate growth and provide follow-on growth-stage capital.
Early-stage fund in support Spartan Innovations supporting startups throughout Michigan.
President & Board Director
2014
Spartan Innovations is a venture development organization and wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Research Foundation. The organization is focused on accelerating new venture creation derived from students, faculty and staff at Michigan State University. Programs include EIR's, the Conquer Accelerator program, a MedTech Accelerator Program and system of resources designed to move early stage inventions to commercialization.
President & CEO
2011 - 2014
Senior Licensing Associate | Assistant Director
2001 - 2011
Business Development
1999 - 2001
International Business Development and Corporate Finance
1997 - 1999
Flexera Software helps application producers and enterprises increase application usage and the value they derive from their software.
Raised $81,382,366.00 from TA Associates.
Business Development
1996 - 1997
An ecosystem of software & hardware vendors, integrators and solution providers focused on adoption of NFV and SDN-based solutions.