Jennifer Leeds

Independent consultant, mentor, volunteer, passionate hiker. Retired from Novartis.

📍 Emeryville, California, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 7 investments📅 23 years investing🗓 Last invested Jan 2024
Operator-angel🌍 United States
7
Total investments
1
Early stage
0
Mid stage
2
Late stage
23y
Years active

Portfolio

7 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Investor and partner
Jan 2024
Empire Social Lounge is not just a premier cigar and whiskey lounge… there’s more to it. We are a sophisticated atmosphere known for its five-star service, extensive of inventory of premium spirits, curated cigar humidor and its private membership program. Our inventory boasts of over 5,000 cigars perfectly displayed in our walk in cedar humidors, over 400 Whisk(e)y filling our bar shelves, 450+ Members and three beautiful and distinct locations across South Florida. Cigar & Leisure Magazine has awarded Empire Social as “Best Cigar Lounge in the Nation”. And for several years Miami New Times has named us “Best Cigar Lounge in Miami”, just to name a few. Our goal has been to create a space where you come to slow down. Reset and relax. Disconnect or connect. “We wanted an environment where friends and colleagues could spend quality time. A place where fathers and sons can create the same type of experiences that my father and I shared.” - Ryan Leeds, Founder
Board Observer
Jul 2021
The mission of Bluejay Therapeutics is to develop innovative cures for infectious diseases with the first target indication of chronic HDV infection.
Board Observer
Jul 2019
Caribou is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded by pioneers in CRISPR genome editing, leveraging our proprietary technology to develop genome-edited off-the-shelf immune cell therapies for the treatment of cancer. We believe that cell therapies are critical now and for the future of cancer therapy and that advanced genome editing is necessary to develop sophisticated cell therapies to treat a variety of malignancies. We are developing a pipeline of genome-edited, off-the-shelf CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies for a range of tumor types. Our mission is to develop innovative, transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases through novel genome editing. Members of the Caribou herd open their minds to new ideas and welcome diverse perspectives. We proudly assert that teams do their best work when their members are personally engaged, their ideas are taken seriously, their contributions are recognized, and their needs are met. Interested in joining our team? Please check out our jobs at https://cariboubio.bamboohr.com/jobs/
late stageBiotechnology
Senior Research Investigator
Sep 2008
We’re driven by the Novartis purpose: To deliver innovative medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens. As a focused R&D engine, we’re designed to turn breakthrough science into transformative, high-value treatments that have the most potential to improve and extend the lives of patients.
Senior Research Investigator
Sep 2008
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, working to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach more than 250 million people worldwide. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com See our community guidelines: https://go.novartis.social/3Nboxki
Research Investigator II
Mar 2006
We’re driven by the Novartis purpose: To deliver innovative medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens. As a focused R&D engine, we’re designed to turn breakthrough science into transformative, high-value treatments that have the most potential to improve and extend the lives of patients.
Research Investigator I
Mar 2003
We’re driven by the Novartis purpose: To deliver innovative medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens. As a focused R&D engine, we’re designed to turn breakthrough science into transformative, high-value treatments that have the most potential to improve and extend the lives of patients.
Experience · 8 entries
All (8)
Investments (7)
Founder (1)
Board (2)
2024
Investor and partner
Jan 2024
Empire Social Lounge is not just a premier cigar and whiskey lounge… there’s more to it. We are a sophisticated atmosphere known for its five-star service, extensive of inventory of premium spirits, curated cigar humidor and its private membership program. Our inventory boasts of over 5,000 cigars perfectly displayed in our walk in cedar humidors, over 400 Whisk(e)y filling our bar shelves, 450+ Members and three beautiful and distinct locations across South Florida. Cigar & Leisure Magazine has awarded Empire Social as “Best Cigar Lounge in the Nation”. And for several years Miami New Times has named us “Best Cigar Lounge in Miami”, just to name a few. Our goal has been to create a space where you come to slow down. Reset and relax. Disconnect or connect. “We wanted an environment where friends and colleagues could spend quality time. A place where fathers and sons can create the same type of experiences that my father and I shared.” - Ryan Leeds, Founder
2021
Board Observer
Jul 2021
The mission of Bluejay Therapeutics is to develop innovative cures for infectious diseases with the first target indication of chronic HDV infection.
Council of Founders
Feb 2021
imYEG is an industry-led early industry foundry designed to overcome the earliest barriers faced by university researchers just starting on the path to commercialization.
2019
Board Observer
Jul 2019
Caribou is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, founded by pioneers in CRISPR genome editing, leveraging our proprietary technology to develop genome-edited off-the-shelf immune cell therapies for the treatment of cancer. We believe that cell therapies are critical now and for the future of cancer therapy and that advanced genome editing is necessary to develop sophisticated cell therapies to treat a variety of malignancies. We are developing a pipeline of genome-edited, off-the-shelf CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies for a range of tumor types. Our mission is to develop innovative, transformative therapies for patients with devastating diseases through novel genome editing. Members of the Caribou herd open their minds to new ideas and welcome diverse perspectives. We proudly assert that teams do their best work when their members are personally engaged, their ideas are taken seriously, their contributions are recognized, and their needs are met. Interested in joining our team? Please check out our jobs at https://cariboubio.bamboohr.com/jobs/
late stageBiotechnology
2008
Senior Research Investigator
Sep 2008
We’re driven by the Novartis purpose: To deliver innovative medicines that alleviate society’s greatest disease burdens. As a focused R&D engine, we’re designed to turn breakthrough science into transformative, high-value treatments that have the most potential to improve and extend the lives of patients.
Show all 8 entries ↓
Investment activity
2003–2024 · 7 investments
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