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Rick Defieux

Rick Defieux

Chair, Investment Committee & Co-founder atSJF VenturesNew York, NY
LinkedIn SJF Ventures websiteFirm profile

Rick Defieux is the Chair of SJF's Investment Committee and co-founder of SJF, with over 30 years of venture capital experience. He previously advised Battelle and managed venture funds in Asia.

What Rick can write

Writes checks of$3M 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.

SJF Ventures writes $3M to $30M checks, larger than 93% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: SJF Ventures.

Career

  1. Environmental Research & Technology Inc (ERT) · Senior Scientist and Division Manager
  2. Edison I, II and III · General Partner
  3. Battelle and Battelle company 360ip · advisor
    2009-2015
  4. SJF · Chair of SJF's Investment Committee and co-founder
    Now
  5. Environmental Research & Technology Inc · Senior Scientist and Division Manager
  6. Edison · General Partner
  7. SJF · Chair of SJF’s Investment Committee and co-founder
    Now

Companies founded

SJF

Focus

environmentalenergycommunicationsventure capital

Education

Columbia University, MBABoston University, BA and MA

Also at SJF Ventures

Alan Kelley
Alan KelleyManaging Director
Arrun Kapoor
Arrun KapoorManaging Director
Cody Nystrom
Cody NystromManaging Director
Dan Geballe
Dan GeballeManaging Director
Dave Kirkpatrick
Dave KirkpatrickManaging Director & Co-founder
David Griest
David GriestManaging Director
Jackie Lipkin
Jackie LipkinManaging Director
Perry Clarkson
Perry ClarksonManaging Director

Partners like Rick

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

Andrew Beebe
Andrew BeebeManaging Director, Obvious Ventures
Daniel Balmisse
Daniel BalmisseManaging Partner, Cathay InnoSquare, Cathay Innovation
Brian D'Ambrosio
Brian D'AmbrosioGeneral Partner, GOVO Venture Partners
Nabeela Merchant
Nabeela MerchantTELUS Pollinator Fund for Good
Arti Srivastava
Arti SrivastavaSenior Vice President, Investing, Citi Impact Fund
Fady SaadGeneral Partner, Cybernetix Ventures

Alert me when SJF Ventures is active

One email when Rick'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 Rick Defieux?

Rick Defieux is the Chair of SJF's Investment Committee and co-founder of SJF, with over 30 years of venture capital experience. He previously advised Battelle and managed venture funds in Asia.

How much does Rick Defieux invest?

Rick Defieux invests through SJF Ventures, which writes checks of $3M to $30M at series a, series b.

How do I pitch Rick Defieux?

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

What did Rick Defieux do before SJF Ventures?

Senior Scientist and Division Manager at Environmental Research & Technology Inc (ERT); General Partner at Edison I, II and III; advisor at Battelle and Battelle company 360ip; Senior Scientist and Division Manager at Environmental Research & Technology Inc; General Partner at Edison.

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