Nicole J. Walker

Nicole joined Arboretum Ventures in 2021 as a Managing Partner. She emphasizes breakthrough innovations in MedTech and tech-enabled care delivery companies improving access, cost, and quality of care for unmet therapeutic needs. For more than 25 years, Nicole has successfully partnered with entrepreneurs to modernize and transform the healthcare industry. She strongly believes in the power of teams and in the importance of bringing diversity to leadership ranks when building effective organizations. Her notable investments and board roles prior to joining Arboretum include category-defining companies such as Elucent Medical, MI Biosciences (acquired), NeoChord, NeuMoDx Molecular (acquired), and Strata Oncology.

Nicole joins Arboretum Ventures from Baird Capital, where she was a managing director and partner, having co-led the team’s healthcare investments since 2013. Prior to Baird, Nicole was an investment director at Abbott Ventures and Abbott Biotech Ventures, helping to stand up the original investment organization for the corporation. Nicole began her career as a process engineer with Advanced Cardiovascular Systems/Guidant, where she spent ten years advancing through increasing roles of responsibility in product development, marketing, and strategy.

Nicole is proud to serve as an advisor to Springboard Enterprises, an accelerator program dedicated to building high-growth, technology-oriented companies led by women, to the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council – MATTER Chicago, and to Women in Bio – Chicago. Additionally, she serves as a board director with the National Venture Capital Association, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Mid-America Healthcare Investor Network, and Minnesota Medical Alley. Nicole has been recognized as one of the industry’s most active and engaged investors by “The Tech Crunch List 2020” and by Crain’s Chicago Business “Tech 50” for 2018 and 2016.

Nicole holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and completed dual degrees in management and operations from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Why is advancing the next era of venture capital important?

Venture capital is an American national treasure. It has fueled the advancement of innovation, economies, and people. It has created value, jobs, wealth, and life-changing products and services. Though venture capital as an industry may be young and as an asset class may be small, high-growth startups and their long-term investors have truly changed the world.

To continue the success of the industry’s past 50 years to the next 50 years and beyond, we must expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the venture ecosystem and thrive. We must educate future leaders on best practices and help them learn from the industry’s rich history. We must help firms build strong, healthy cultures and values. We must keep the public and ecosystem informed through qualitative and quantitative insights.

By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, we shape the next era of venture capital.

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Managing Partner, Arboretum Ventures

Why is advancing the next era of venture capital important?