Clare Birch
Senior Associate at Blackbird
San Francisco, California
Overview
Work Experience
Member of Programs Staff
2025 - Current
Chief of Staff
2024 - 2025
Emergence Quantum solves the unanticipated challenges for next-generation advanced computing---the kinds that only emerge as systems scale. EQ is a world-class contracting R&D org, in the style of BBN. If you are an advanced or quantum computing company looking to scale, you should definitely get in touch with the team at EQ. I partnered with founders David Reilly and Thomas Ohki on the company's initial strategy and operations.
Member, National Quantum Advisory Committee
2022 - 2025
Invited as one of fifteen "industry leaders" by the Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Science and Industry, and Dr Cathy Foley, Chief Scientist, to advise on Australia's first National Quantum Strategy.
Senior Investment Associate and "Scientist in Residence"
2021 - 2024
- Worked with Partners to deploy >$100M in rounds from pre-seed to Series E frontier-tech companies, including sourcing and running point (analysis, negotiations, etc) on competitive and complex deals. This was a writing-heavy role. - Created Foundry, a frontier-tech accelerator. The companies that have come out of Foundry have raised from top-tier VCs (including Blackbird), been headhunted by YC, and gone on to specialist accelerators (including Mass Robotics'). I specialised in frontier technologies across the entire portfolio. Verticals included quantum (PsiQuantum, Nomad Atomics, Iceberg Quantum), medical devices (Vexev, Remedy Robotics, Opto), life sciences (Inventia), fusion (OpenStar), space tech (Gilmour), chemistry and photonics (Syenta, Baraja), stuff that leverages solar abundance (SunDrive, Aquila), software (Redactive, stealth), and next-gen media (Soul Æther, VeVe, Sunroom).
Chemistry Research Assistant and Outreach Team Lead
2019 - 2021
Research: - Led continued investigation into G4/hemin DNAzymes begun at Nanjing University. DFT simulations to probe the effects of long-range electrostatic field on the system's catalytic efficacy. Poster, youngest presenter, at APATCC-19. - Also, research assistant in Chemistry Education, focused on novel, compliant benchmarks for skills assessments and cool labs. Outreach: - Created and delivered educational programs for chemistry students from a range of backgrounds, from remote classes and rural workshops in Orange to high-achievers with the International Science School and the very important annual titration competition. - In the final ~year, managed a team of ~10 staff to do the same. - Published monthly science communication articles alongside Dr Karl, Adam Spencer, and Alice Motion. - Co-created and ran International Science School (ISS) 2021 Chemistry workshops ('Is the Universe Ruled by Chaos?', July 2021).
Student Fellow to the Academic Board and the Faculty of Science and its Board
2019 - 2019
Elected by peers to represent undergraduate interests at the University's second-highest governing body, and to represent student interests in science curriculum and student experience.
Programs Coordinator
2021 - 2021
- First employee. - Created STEM education programs for remote and at-risk youth, including project management and fundraising for experimental program with Merck and resource translation program with the National Indigenous Australians Agency - Hired and managed early team - Fundraised from HNWs, private grants, and government
Learning Support Assistant/Teachers' Aid
2017 - 2018
Coached high school students with specific learning needs.
Retail Assistant
2016 - 2017
Receptionist
2015 - 2016