DW

David Washburn

President at Red Cedar Ventures

East Lansing, Michigan

Overview

Work Experience

CE

Cambridge Enterprise

  • 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.

MR

MSU Research Foundation

  • 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.

MR

Michigan Rise

  • 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.

RC

Red Cedar Ventures

  • 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.

SI

Spartan Innovations

  • 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.

Uo

University of Illinois - Office of Technology Management

  • Senior Licensing Associate | Assistant Director

    2001 - 2011

Various Entrepreneurial Ventures

  • Business Development

    1999 - 2001

IS

InstallShield Software Corp (acquired by Macrovision; now Flexera Software)

  • International Business Development and Corporate Finance

    1997 - 1999

Education

Relevant Websites