Empowering Venture Capital Associates
Jenny Barba, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Features Capital, is a venture investor with over twenty-four years of experience financing the growth of medical device and healthcare technology innovation. Jenny has executed over $4 billion in capital transactions across thirty lead-managed public and private equity offerings, M&A, and alternative investments. Jenny specializes in deal sourcing, portfolio construction, harvesting growth and building management teams in medical technology companies across all stages of development and a broad spectrum of diseases. Jenny has a successful track record fundraising for shareholder value creation, and strategic planning for corporate development, market expansion, commercialization growth and exits. Jenny has a broad network of trusted relationships with senior leaders in venture capital, founders, executives, board members, innovation centers and economic development hubs.
Jenny is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 26, Trustee of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital part of Dartmouth Health, Steering Committee Member of the University of Michigan Fast Forward Medical Innovation Hub and the MedTech Collaborative, guest lecturer at University of Michigan, Tel Aviv University, Life Science Intelligence, BioUtah and University of Vermont, and an advisor to several life sciences startup hubs. Jenny received her BA in Neuroscience from Colorado College and an MBA and MHSA from the University of Michigan.
This episode features an in-depth conversation with Jenny Barba, founder and managing partner of Features Capital, an early-stage medtech venture capital firm. Hosts Mike Hostetler and Jen Fang explore Jenny’s journey from neuroscience and finance to founding her own VC firm, her passion for supporting diverse and first-time founders in MedTech, and the unique challenges and opportunities in venture capital investment. Listen to gain a behind-the-scenes look at building a portfolio. Jenny also shares personal anecdotes, including the touching story behind the name ‘Features Capital,’ driven by a conversation with her son. Don’t miss Part 2, which will feature Jeff Chu, the firm’s other founder and managing partner.
Mike is a partner in the San Francisco (SoMa) and San Diego offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He has provided strategic intellectual property counseling to hundreds growth enterprises in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, both venture-backed and public companies. His expertise includes patent strategy, prosecution, and diligence (both buy and sell side) for venture financings, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions.
Jennifer is a partner in the Boston office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. She helps innovative startups grow into successful enterprises by providing counsel to the founders, management teams and boards and by handling the legal and strategic business issues and transactions that arise at each stage. She is a member of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) General Counsel Advisory Board and is a frequent speaker.