Isaac Zike, Ph.D.
St. Louis, Missouri
Joined in 2019
It is a privilege to be part of the RiverVest team which has consistently shown the ability to identify impactful technologies and to empower our entrepreneur partners to develop therapies that drastically improve patients’ lives.
As Principal, Isaac conducts diligence on novel investment opportunities while also focusing on deal origination and network development. Isaac also supports the operational activities of current portfolio companies.
Isaac previously served as associate within the Life Sciences practice of the Huron Consulting Group in New York, where he assisted pharmaceutical and biotech clients on strategic projects, ranging from early optimization of R&D processes to commercialization strategies for marketed products.
He earned a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vanderbilt University in the lab of Dr. Veenstra-VanderWeele where his thesis work focused on the evaluation and validation of novel animal models for psychiatric disease. He earned a B.S. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, with a double-major in Biochemistry and Genetics, Cell Biology, and Development.
Personal Interests: playing hockey and taking part in the rapidly growing culinary and brewing community throughout St. Louis
Committed to Doing Business the Right Way to Deliver the Best Outcomes for Patients, Entrepreneurs, and Investors
St. Louis, San Diego & Cleveland
Our Team
A Strong Partnership Built to Last
SchmelterCo-Founder & Managing Director
McKearnManaging Director
O'DonnellManaging Director
MelzerCo-Founder and Managing Director
HongManaging Director
RappManaging Director
SpilizewskiVice President
WeitzmanChief Financial Officer
CatheyDirector of Administration
ZikePrincipal
KroteeSenior Associate
BermanConsultant and Venture Partner
RotherDirector of Finance
HarrisController
KleiboekerAnalyst
SeitzAnalyst
KellerConsultant
ShortExecutive Assistant
Our Team
Scientific Advisors
BorchardtDistinguished Professor Emeritus, The University of Kansas-Lawrence
DiPersioChief, Division of Oncology and Deputy Director, Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine
RaderProfessor, UF Scripps Biomedical Research
RutterProfessor of Biochemistry and HHMI Investigator, University of Utah
SetteProfessor and Member LaJolla Institute for Immunology, Division of Vaccine Discovery Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research
TontonozFrancis and Albert Piansky Professor of Pathology, Professor of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
15 Companies Founded
Collaborative Approach and Open Communication
An exceptional firm culture where each is expected to be transparent, strategic, dependable, results-driven, collaborative, and grounded in purpose. That's RiverVest.