Phil Masterson

Associate Director, Ventures, Cancer Research Horizons

Phil has a BSc in Cell Biology from the University of Essex, and a PhD in Virology from the University of Cambridge. After a post-doc position at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) in London, Phil spent a number of years managing R&D programmes in the biotech industry. 

He moved into technology transfer in 2003 when he joined Cancer Research Horizons (formerly called Cancer Research Technology). Since that time, he has built up extensive experience of managing and commercialising healthcare technologies from academic origins, focusing in recent years on the creation of innovative and transformative oncology ventures, from ideation to launch.  

He has served as a Board Director or Observer for a range of start-up companies including Artios Pharma, Monte Rosa Therapeutics, Infinitopes, MyT BIO, Elaitra and Oncodrug.

Rebecca Todd

Investment Director, Longwall Ventures

Rebecca began venture investing in 2006 while at Oxford Capital, where she took responsibility for the Oxford Gateway Funds’ investments into healthcare and life science companies, and went on to become Director, Healthcare Ventures at Imperial Innovations (now part of IP Group). Her earlier career was as a marketing consultant to pharmaceutical and life science technology companies. Rebecca has a PhD in Genetics from Nottingham University and an MBA from Oxford University. She joined Longwall Ventures after a couple of years sabbatical break spent exploring South America in a VW camper van and focuses predominantly on medical technology opportunities. 

Santiago Matheus

Managing Partner, LQD

Santiago directs the day-to-day activities at LQD, drawing on his experience as an executive, angel investor and founder, as well as a product and strategy consultant. He works with entrepreneurs to understand their ambitions and provides support across the various stages of venture-building.

Prior to founding LQD, Santiago held a range of operational and consultative roles in companies including IBM, IDEO, Method Design, AVG Technologies. He is happiest at the intersection of technology, business, and design, and is passionate about deep tech’s promise to improve the world.

Santiago has held or holds various NED and board seats at early-stage companies in the UK and in charities based in his native country, Ecuador.

Jonathan Nash

Investment Principle, LifeArc Ventures

Jonathan joined LifeArc as an Investment Principal at LifeArc Ventures in 2024. He is responsible for new investments and managing existing portfolio companies.

Prior to joining LifeArc, Jon was an Associate with the Biotechnology team at M Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Merck KGaA, where he was responsible for new investments and existing portfolio companies with a focus on therapeutics and life sciences. Prior to this, he was an Associate at UBS in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group in London, as well as a Life Science Specialist at L.E.K. Consulting.

Jon started his career as a doctor in London and holds Degrees in Medicine and Neuroscience from Imperial College London.

Lennart Spindler

Senior Analyst, SV Health Investors

Lennart joined SV in 2024 as a Senior Analyst in the DDF team. Prior to joining SV, Lennart was as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge, alongside project work at Syncona Partners, Start Codon, and Cambridge Enterprise.

During his Postdoc, Lennart was a research lead in the lab of Dr Caroline Williams-Gray & Prof Roger Barker, where he investigated peripheral versus central inflammation and neurotransmitter system dysregulation as drivers of proteinopathy and disease progression in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. He received his PhD in Clinical Neurosciences and has published in high impact journals (PNAS, Brain, Neurocritical Care, Neuroimage). During his studies at Cambridge he co-founded the Queens’ College Entrepreneurship Centre.

In his free time, Lennart enjoys playing the bagpipes, hiking off-grid, taking (bad) film photographs, and reviving classic cars.