Dr. Elaine Stead

Principal

Dr. Elaine Stead is an Australian venture capitalist with expertise in science, entrepreneurship, and investment. She is a Principal at Main Sequence, a CSIRO-backed venture capital firm on the Defence Trailblazer Investor Access Panel.

Before joining Main Sequence in March 2024, Dr. Stead held various positions in the venture capital industry. She founded Human VC, managed the South Australian Venture Capital Fund (SAVCF), and co-founded Tribe Global Ventures in Brisbane. She was also the head of venture capital at Blue Sky Alternative Investments when it was listed on the ASX. During her tenure at SAVCF, she oversaw the investment in Fivecast, a company specialising in national security data intelligence.

Dr. Stead holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Adelaide and started as a stem-cell biologist before moving into commercial research science.

Throughout her career, Dr. Stead has been involved in over 80 startup investments across Australia, the United States, and Southeast Asia. Notable companies in her investment portfolio include Myriota, Fivecast, Go1, Tritium, Vinomofo, Lexer, Fluent Commerce, Hatchtech, Pet Circle, and Parcel Point.

Dr. Stead’s contributions to the Australian startup ecosystem are well-recognised, and she continues to influence the industry through her roles in venture capital and as a thought leader on innovation and diversity.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elainestead   |   Website: https://www.mseq.vc/