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Jim Macdonald

Jim Macdonald

Managing Director atFirst AnalysisIllinois
LinkedIn First Analysis websiteFirm profile

Jim Macdonald is a managing director at First Analysis with over two decades of experience. He advises SaaS businesses and supports investments in several companies, previously working at Nalco Chemical and Ecolab.

What Jim can write

Writes checks of$3M to $10M
Comes in atSeries A, Series BCan lead the round
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

First Analysis writes $3M to $10M checks, larger than 93% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: First Analysis.

Career

  1. Ecolab
  2. Nalco Chemical · general manager
  3. First Analysis · Managing Director
    Now
  4. subsidiary of Ecolab
  5. IVCA · Chairperson

Investments named in public bios

Drive My WayFreeoskSynergySuiteTransformative Pharmaceutical SolutionsViralGainsYello

Focus

software-as-a-service (saas)growth transactionsinvestment advisingventure capitalsoftware-as-a-service

Education

Harvard University, MBACornell University, bachelor’s degree in civil engineering

Also at First Analysis

Andrew Walsh
Andrew WalshManaging Director
Joe Munda
Joe MundaManaging Director
Oliver Nicklin
Oliver NicklinFounder and Chairman
Richard Conklin
Richard ConklinManaging Director
Tracy Marshbanks
Tracy MarshbanksManaging Director
Corey Greendale
Corey GreendaleManaging Director, Office of the President
Howard Smith
Howard SmithManaging Director, Office of the President
Kenny Guerrero
Kenny GuerreroAssociate

Partners like Jim

At firms with a similar stage, sector and check size.

Steven Mankoff
Steven MankoffPartner, TDF Ventures
Brendon DurkinManaging Director, Koch Disruptive Technologies
Aaron Holiday645 Ventures
Josh LumerSenior Principal, Allstate Strategic Ventures
Blake PattonFounder & Managing Partner, Tech Square Ventures
Akira KurabayashiManaging Partner / Head of Japan, DNX Ventures

Alert me when First Analysis is active

One email when Jim's firm raises a fund, adds a partner or shows new activity.

Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

Send Mode VC your deck

Raising a pre-seed or seed round? We write $1M to $5M first checks and help founders with distribution. A partner reads every deck.

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Questions

Who is Jim Macdonald?

Jim Macdonald is a managing director at First Analysis with over two decades of experience. He advises SaaS businesses and supports investments in several companies, previously working at Nalco Chemical and Ecolab.

How much does Jim Macdonald invest?

Jim Macdonald invests through First Analysis, which writes checks of $3M to $10M at series a, series b.

How do I pitch Jim Macdonald?

A warm intro from a founder First Analysis backed works best. A short LinkedIn note with one line on traction is the next best route.

What did Jim Macdonald do before First Analysis?

Ecolab; general manager at Nalco Chemical; subsidiary of Ecolab; Chairperson at IVCA.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Is this you? Ask for a correction.