Mark Yde

Investor at Ajinomoto Group Ventures

Speaker

Mark Yde is an Investor at Ajinomoto Group Ventures, where he focuses on technologies across the full biomanufacturing value chain for biologics, including sensors, imaging, and bioreactor technologies at the assay and process scale for cell and gene therapy. He pivoted from a neurogenetics research career to commercial work in iPSC and advanced cell culture applications in 2019, supporting some of the early movers in organoid-based drug screening and iPSC-derived cell therapies. Following a move into investing, Mark has led investments across a range of modalities and therapeutic categories, including neuroinflammation, psychedelics, and interventional brain trauma devices. He holds degrees in Neuroscience and Business from the University of Rochester and a Master's in Systems Engineering from Cornell University. Mark believes in value investing and avoids the hype cycle; he taught neurobiology in prison; and he enjoys Riesling from the Finger Lakes.