Better Health, Brighter Future
Our Team
Michael Martin
Head, R&D Center for External Innovation (CEI) + Global Head of Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI)
Michael Martin is the Head of, R&D Center for External Innovation (CEI) and Global Head of Takeda Ventures, Inc. and is based in San Diego, California. His professional background includes venture capital, pharma business development, and broad R&D experiences. Integral role in the discovery and development of 17 innovative investigational drugs, and 4 commercial products. Prior to joining TVI, Michael was most recently a member of Global Licensing and Business Development at Takeda, heading efforts for sourcing, and transacting technologies and early-stage pipeline programs. He has held executive and scientific roles with Intellikine (acquired by Takeda), TargeGen (acquired by Sanofi-Aventis), Arena Pharmaceuticals, and Monsanto Corporation. Michael earned his doctorate in Medicinal Chemistry from the University of Illinois and holds a M.S. degree in analytical chemistry and B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics.
Jiaping Gu
Partner, Takeda Ventures, Inc.
Jiaping Gu joined Takeda Ventures, Inc (TVI) in May 2022, as a Partner. He has more than five years of experience in public and private life science investments. He has served on a board of directors at various biotech startup companies. Prior to joining TVI, Jiaping was Vice President at Hillhouse Capital, where he was a member of the Bio Venture team covering private-stage biotech investments in the US, Europe, and China. Prior to Hillhouse, he has more than 10 years of research experience focusing on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration as a scientist at Lundbeck. He has a postdoctoral fellow at New York University (NYU) and Emory University. Jiaping has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Rutgers University and B.S. in Biological Sciences from Tsinghua University in China.
Jim Silva
Senior Manager/Controller, Takeda Ventures, Inc.
Jim Silva joined Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI) in September 2021, as Senior Manager/Controller, and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Prior to joining TVI, Jim was a Manager in the Assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Boston where he served clients in the asset and wealth management, real estate, and not-for-profit industries. He provided assurance services pertaining to US GAAP, IFRS, restructuring and various other technical accounting matters to one of the firm’s largest audit clients. Jim is a Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from Northeastern University.
Miles Gerson
Senior Investment Director & Partner, Takeda Ventures, Inc.
Miles Gerson joined Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI) in April 2020, as a Partner, and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He brings more than 15 years of experience in life science venture investing, business development, licensing, technology transfer, and corporate engagement for innovation. He has specialized in company formation and investment diligence for both US and European-based venture firms and has served as strategic advisor to startup executives and board members. He has held multiple operational roles spanning founding management, head of finance, head of business development, and head of legal for venture-backed and publicly traded companies. Miles also served as UCLA’s Managing Officer of Business Development, focusing on expanding commercialization of UCLA’s novel technologies, licensing, and engaging industry for external innovation, spin-outs, and collaborations. Miles holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Neuroscience from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and a JD/MBA in Strategic Management in Life & Engineering Sciences from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Sacha Mann
Senior Investment Director & Partner, Takeda Ventures, Inc.
Sacha Mann joined Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI) in June 2021, as Senior Investment Director & Partner, and is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has a decade of experience in venture investing and complimentary skills in company creation, management as biotech CEO, business development, and R&D. She has been an advisor and director for various life science companies, incubators/accelerators, and venture capital funds. Previously she was the CEO of Biosys, a venture-backed clinical stage microbiome company, and led several healthcare investments at Inventages. Prior to Inventages, Sacha was an early stage investor focused on innovation and investment at Archangels and BDC Capital. Sacha holds a BSc Honours in Chemistry from the University of British Columbia, a MSc in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from Simon Fraser University and is a Kauffman Fellow.
Victor Stone
Senior Investment Director & Partner, Takeda Ventures, Inc.
Victor Stone (Yoshihide Ishii) joined Takeda Ventures, Inc. (TVI) in January 2020, as a Partner, and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In addition to his role as an life-science investor, he co-directs a consortium of 25 VC/CVCs seeking to catalyze the Japanese biotech ecosystem. He brings more than 15 years of experience as venture investing and clinical practice. He serves on the investment committee of a fund he launched between Takeda and his former fund, Whiz Partners. His investor roles span fund conceptualization and LP fund raising, and operational roles include company building and corporate turn-arounds. Prior to his transition to business, Victor served in the United States Navy and Marine Corps as a Naval Flight Surgeon, with multiple combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan; humanitarian aid in Bangladesh, and Officer in Charge of all rotary wing medical forces of the Marine Atlantic fleet. Victor holds an M.D. from Jefferson Medical College, and MBA from Harvard Business School.
