Alex de Winter
MBA 09
MBA 09
Associate
Mohr Davidow Ventures
Menlo Park, California
Internship:
Summer Intern
Mohr Davidow Ventures
Menlo Park, California
Previous degrees:
BS, Chemistry/English
Amherst College, Massachusetts
PhD, Chemistry
Stanford University, California
Job prior to Haas:
Senior Scientist
Pacific Biosciences
Menlo Park, California
After a satisfying career in bench science, Alex de Winter plans to take what he has learned at Haas about the "business behind science" to propel him into a career in venture capital or with a biotech startup.
A Complete Approach to Experiential Learning
"Being a Haas Venture Fellow was an invaluable opportunity to look at and experience both sides of the VC equation in real time. I listened to my fellow students from the Entrepreneurship class pitch their ideas. In the Venture Capital Investment Competition, Real VCs critiqued my performance. I got the best of both worlds."
Innovative Thinking
"In our Business Model Innovation class, we evaluated the business models of new disruptive companies and how they might compete with established companies. My teammate and I looked at Tesla Motors, which plans to build a high-performance all-electric roadster. It was interesting to see how Silicon Valley entrepreneurs plan to apply their out-of-the box thinking in a super-competitive industry with deeply entrenched players."
Valuable Insights from Executives
"I love taking classes taught by people who have practical experience in what I want to do after graduation. People like Jessica Hoover, former VP of Business Development at Chiron, who taught Business Development in Biotech. We learned about deal-making, joint partnerships, mergers and acquisitions from someone who has done all of that."
Confidence Without Attitude
"Getting into Haas gives you a certain degree of confidence, but once you're here, you don't feel any entitlement among the students."
Healthy Competition
"Being part of the Haas Rugby team reminded me that rugby and Haas attract similar personality types: athletic, open-minded, with a crazy sense of fun."
