Peer Groups

NVCA formed the CFO Task Force to have a focused group of leading venture capital industry CFOs working with the NVCA Board of Directors and staff to 1.) Identify accounting, reporting and auditing issues of importance to the industry; 2.) Serve as a sounding board for the NVCA Board of Directors and staff in prioritizing relevant accounting/auditing issues; and 3.) Assist NVCA staff in analyzing issues which have been identified and determining appropriate action. Comprised of CFOs from NVCA member firms, the CFO Task Force holds monthly calls to discuss priority issues, strategize on upcoming comment letters to regulators and identify emerging issues. Members of the CFO Task Force comprise the organizing and program committees for the two annual in-person events, which focus on best practices, professional development and topical issues.

Charlotte Savercool
Director of Government Affairs

NVCA formed the Cleantech Advisory Council to create a national working group to identify regulatory and legislative issues critical to the development and commercialization of new cleantech technologies. The Council helps formulate NVCA’s policy agenda in the cleantech arena, works to accelerate the growth of this emerging sector, and organizes select events that provide unique learning and deal opportunities for its members. As the landscape for cleantech investing has shifted, there remains a committed group of venture capitalists and firms that are still operating in this space. Venture capital investment in energy and cleantech companies is only a few good federal policies away from taking off. NVCA’s Cleantech Advisory Council is committed to seeing such polities implemented.

Justin Field
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

The mission of NVCA is to advance the global competitiveness of the U.S. venture capital industry. The Corporate Venture Group and its symbiotic relationship with the mission is to advance the competitiveness of the dynamic global innovation ecosystem through collaboration with the venture community. The NVCA Corporate Venture Group (CVG) fulfills the information, education, and networking needs of corporations, enabling them to accelerate the progress of innovation and growth through successful strategic venturing. The CVG is designed to build better communication and practical cooperation across all parties in the venture process, including corporations, venture capitalists, start-up companies, and the research community.

Stephanie Volk
Vice President of Development

The General Counsel Advisory Board is responsible for maintaining and updating the Model Legal Documents and provides guidance to NVCA on legislative and policy issues. Along with other general counsels and outside counsels to venture firms, the Advisory Board meets once per year for the VCGC Annual Meeting, and during the year organizes educational opportunities on topical issues.

Jeff Farrah
General Counsel

General Counsel Advisory Board Members:

Matthew Bonner
DCM Ventures

Jason Doren
ARCH Venture Partners

Stephen Eberle
Scale Venture Partners

Sarah Reed
RA Capital Management, LLC

Kelly Warrick
GE Ventures

Danielle Naftulin
Cooley LLP

Stephen Bigler
Richard Layton & Finger

Jonathan Gworek
Morse

Michael Kendall
Goodwin

Jeffrey Wolters
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP

Scott James
DCVC

Joe Raffetto
Gunderson Dettmer

Jennifer Fang
Wilson Sonsini

Bobby Bartlett
University of California Berkeley

In response to the increase in growth equity investing, NVCA launched the Growth Equity Group to collect and disseminate relevant information and shared practices to NVCA members who are active in this stage of investment. In addition to engaging in political advocacy on behalf of growth equity investors, the Growth Equity Group supports growth equity investors through education and networking opportunities.

Justin Field
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs

The Life Science Investor Group educates policymakers on the critical role America’s medical innovation plays in the U.S. healthcare system and high quality job creation, where and how disruptive innovations are developed, and the challenges currently facing the medical innovation system. The group actively lobbies policymakers, educates stakeholders, and supports legislation to address the threats facing America’s medical innovation system. In 2010, the group formed the Medical Innovation and Competitiveness (MedIC) Coalition, a powerful alliance between NVCA member firms and their early-stage portfolio companies focused on advocating for policies that foster medical innovation in the U.S. and ensure that we remain the primary incubator for global innovation.

Jeff Farrah
General Counsel

The Strategic Communications (StratComm) Group was formed to enhance the overall effectiveness of the venture capital industry’s communications efforts and to assist NVCA members in maximizing returns on their respective commitments to brand development and investor relations. Comprised of public relations, communications, marketing and investor relations professionals from member firms as well as their consultants, the StratComm group meets regularly throughout the year to network, discuss best practices, and identify opportunities for collaboration to promote the role venture plays in fueling the innovation economy.

Cassie Ann Hodges
Director of Communications