DM

Dave Messina

Founder of Cofactor Genomics

San Diego, California

Overview 

Dave Messina is the Founder and COO of Cofactor Genomics, where he has played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a leader in RNA diagnostics. As an accomplished investor and Senior Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund, he co-leads the Bio+Health Fund, focusing on investing in innovative healthcare and biotechnology startups. Messina's career highlights include his involvement in the Human Genome Project and his expertise in utilizing RNA and machine learning technologies in the biotech industry.

Work Experience 

  • General Partner

    2024 - Current

    I lead the Future of Health Fund at Pioneer, investing in and supporting top founders top startups that will make a massive impact on how long we live, how well we live, and how we experience healthcare.

  • Senior Venture Partner and co-lead Bio+Health Fund

    2022 - 2024

  • Senior Venture Partner

    2019 - 2024

  • Venture Partner

    2017 - 2019

  • Member of Selection Committee

    2016

Investing at the Nexus of Food and Health.

  • Advisor

    2017

Geneoscopy develops a screening methodology to noninvasively diagnose colorectal cancer using biomarkers in stool samples.

Raised $112,900,000.00 from Cultivation Capital, BioGenerator, Innovatus Capital Partners, Morningside Venture Investments, Lightchain, LabCorp and NT Investments.

  • Y Combinator (S15)

    2015

    Cofactor Genomics was part of the Summer 2015 batch of Y Combinator.

  • Startup School Advisor

    2017 - 2017

    I advised 18 startup companies in Y Combinator's first Startup School program.

  • Founder and Chief Operating Officer

    2016 - 2024

    I co-founded Cofactor, leading it to successful Medicare reimbursement. I led our 30+ site national clinical trial. Cofactor uses RNA and machine learning to enable doctors to choose the best treatment for their patients.

  • Advisor

    2020 - 2024

Venture capital fund helping entrepreneurs launch exponential organizations generally with an impact or sustainability element.

  • Advisor

    2018 - 2022

  • Member of the Board of Trustees

    2013 - 2019

    Lending my expertise to one of the premier college preparatory boarding schools in the United States. Ranked the #1 Private School in Missouri.

  • Chief Operating Officer

    2015 - 2016

  • Director of Analysis

    2012 - 2015

    Leads Cofactor’s computational research & development program, executing our software and infrastructure strategy Co-director of Operations, planning and coordinating production and personnel Oversees bioinformatics analyses for all clients, from small academic labs to large pharma companies

  • Core Developer

    2010 - 2015

    BioPerl is a set of software libraries which keeps biologists from having to spend so much time writing new code in order to answer their research questions. BioPerl still has a pretty steep learning curve for most people, so I'm trying to help make it easier to use.

  • Developer

    2005 - 2010

    BioPerl is a set of software libraries which keeps biologists from having to spend so much time writing new code in order to answer their research questions. BioPerl still has a pretty steep learning curve for most people, so I'm trying to help make it easier to use.

Articles About Dave

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