Karen Kerr is the US Head of Business Development at Intellectual Ventures (IV). Karen comes to IV with over 15 years of experience as venture investor in early stage technology companies. She founded Agile Equities, a venture development company, where she advised venture firms, university technology transfer offices, and start-up companies. Previously she was a Managing Director at ARCH Venture Partners and an associate at both Patricof & Co. Ventures and ARCH Development Corporation.
Karen has invested across a broad array of companies in life science, information technology, communications and semiconductors, including such companies as Amberwave Systems, Silverstorm Technologies (aka InfiniCon Systems), Teach.com (Intellinex/E&Y), Ensemble, Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and Diversa (NASDAQ: DVSA). She has served as an active director or board observer in numerous early stage companies.
Karen is a director of the National Association of Seed and Venture Funds and a member of both the National Science Foundation SBIR/STTR Advisory Committee and the Florida Technological Research and Development Authority Advisory Board. She is a Trustee of Bryn Mawr College and serves on the Physical Sciences Division Visiting Committee at the University of Chicago. Ms. Kerr previously served as director of the Chicago Public Education Fund and as a senior advisor to Akoya Capital in Chicago. She is a member of the C200 leading business women and in 2000 was selected by Crain's Chicago business as one of the 40 under 40 leading business professionals in Chicago.
Karen holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from The University of Chicago and an A.B. in Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College. She was a member of the Charter Class of Kaufman Fellows.
Check out this article about Karen Kerr, Budding Scientist Embraces Investing.