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Kirk Nielsen

Kirk Nielsen

Co-founder and Managing Partner atVensana CapitalMinnesota
LinkedIn Vensana Capital websiteFirm profile

Kirk Nielsen is a Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, which he co-founded in 2019. He previously led medtech practice at Versant Ventures and worked at Medtronic, Fluidigm, and Bain & Company.

What Kirk can write

Writes checks of$10M to $30M+
Comes in atSeries A, Series BCan lead the round
Ownership target7-10%At first check
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

Vensana Capital writes $10M to $30M+ checks, larger than 97% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: Vensana Capital.

Career

  1. Bain & Company · consultant
  2. Fluidigm
  3. Medtronic · sales & marketing
  4. Versant Ventures · Managing Director
    2006-2019
  5. Vensana Capital · Managing Partner
    Now
  6. Fluidigm
  7. Medtronic

Companies founded

Vensana Capital

Investments named in public bios

ArtelonBiotie TherapiesCameron HealthCardiAQInari MedicalLutonixNeuWave MedicalSequent MedicalVeran MedicalAlleviant MedicalCVRxElucent MedicaliVEAcareMoxeOkami MedicalRampart IC

Focus

medtechhealthcareprivate equity

Education

Harvard College, AB in BiologyHarvard Business School, MBA

Also at Vensana Capital

Justin Klein
Justin KleinCo-founder and Managing Partner
Amrinder Singh
Amrinder SinghPartner
Greg Banker
Greg BankerPartner
Maria Berkman
Maria BerkmanPartner
Mike Kramer
Mike KramerPartner
Allison King
Allison KingInvestment Professional
Petra Gorombei
Petra GorombeiInvestment Professional

Partners like Kirk

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

David KabakoffFounding Senior Partner, HealthQuest Capital
Eric Bednarski
Eric BednarskiManaging Partner, MVM Life Science Partners
Ashley Friedman
Ashley FriedmanManaging Director, Signet Healthcare Partners
J. Matthew Mackowski
J. Matthew MackowskiChairman, Managing Director, Telegraph Hill Partners
Christy Shaffer
Christy ShafferGeneral Partner, Hatteras Venture Partners
Colin Greenspon
Colin GreensponCo-Founder, Narya Capital

Alert me when Vensana Capital is active

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

Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

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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 Kirk Nielsen?

Kirk Nielsen is a Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, which he co-founded in 2019. He previously led medtech practice at Versant Ventures and worked at Medtronic, Fluidigm, and Bain & Company.

How much does Kirk Nielsen invest?

Kirk Nielsen invests through Vensana Capital, which writes checks of $10M to $30M+ at series a, series b.

How do I pitch Kirk Nielsen?

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

What did Kirk Nielsen do before Vensana Capital?

consultant at Bain & Company; Fluidigm; sales & marketing at Medtronic; Managing Director at Versant Ventures; Fluidigm; Medtronic.

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