David Shaw

Active Investor

Affiliate Professor, Artist in Residence at University of New Hampshire

Portland, Maine

David Shaw, Affiliate Professor, Artist in Residence at University of New Hampshire is an active investor based in Portland, Maine. This profile covers what David Shaw backs, at which stage, and how founders can reach out in 2026.

Mr. David Shaw serves as Chief Executive Officer and Partner at Black Point Group. Mr. Shaw founded Cyteir Therapeutics. He is an Angel Investor. He is a prominent American business and social entrepreneur with wide-ranging global leadership experience in science-based companies, investment management, and social impact NGOs. His business creation, leadership, investment, and board experience includes IDEXX Laboratories (founder, CEO), Ikaria Pharmaceuticals (founding CEO, chair), Covetrus (co-founder, chair), Cyteir, Modern Meadow, Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Itaconix, Ovation, Cyteir, Venrock Associates, New Mountain Capital, Leerink Partners, Polaris Venture Partners, and others. These companies, employing more than 20,000 people worldwide, harness modern science to address important needs in healthcare and other markets. Early in his career, he helped build a leading global consulting firm in food and agriculture. His career has included extensive public service in science, conservation, arts, and public policy. He has served on the faculty of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and the advisory board of the Center for Public Leadership. He is treasurer emeritus of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, chair-emeritus of The Jackson Laboratory, a founding director of the US Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and has been a global leader in science-based conservation of nature as a trustee of the National Park Foundation, as founding chair of the Sargasso Sea Alliance and Aspen High Seas Initiative, as a Patron of Nature to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, as a member of Ocean Elders, and as founder of his Innovation Fellows and Second Century Stewardship for America's national parks. He has served as a board member or advisor to the MIT Media Lab, National Geographic Impact Story Lab, Maine Medical Center, Hurricane Island Outward Bound, Discovery Communications, Curiosity Stream, Waterbear Media, Just Capital, Polaris Venture Partners, Arctaris Impact Fund, Sustainable Harvest International, the Telluride Science and Research Center, Nautilus Media, Saildrone, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the Service Year Alliance, the Pell Center Nationhood Lab, Visby Medical, Modern Meadow, Running Tide Technologies, Mind Up, The Future of Cities. He is a Fellow of The Explorers Club, and AAAS, and serves as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He supports his advocacy interests with the production of documentary films. He has been awarded honorary degrees by Colby College, Bates College, Maine College of Art, the University of New England, and the University of Southern Maine. He is a recipient of the Leslie Cheek Medal from the College of William & Mary.

Investor type: Angel
Stages: Early Stage VenturePre SeedSeed
Invests in: Biotech & PharmaSaaS & EnterpriseConsumer & RetailClimate & EnergyMobility & LogisticsEdTech
Location: Portland, Maine
Typical check: $250K
Past investments: 21

Notable investments

Vets First ChoiceIronwood PharmaceuticalsModern Meadow, Inc.American Association for the Advancement of ScienceLeerink Partners LLCArcade (Business/Productivity Software)Ovation.ioCuriosity retreatsSapphire EnergyTella FirmaHurricane Island Outward Bound SchoolTozaro

How to reach David Shaw

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does David Shaw invest in?

David Shaw invests in Biotech & Pharma, SaaS & Enterprise, Consumer & Retail and Climate & Energy, typically at Early Stage Venture, Pre Seed and Seed. Match your sector and stage, then reach out with a personalized pitch.