James Brennan

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund

James is an Investment Director at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, a '9B sovereign development fund established in 2014 to invest on a commercial basis in support of economic activity and employment in the country.

James is responsible for the ISIF's venture capital strategy, which has the objective of supporting a vibrant and diverse funding landscape for early-stage, high-potential technology and healthcare businesses in Ireland. He has led the ISIF's strategic investments across a wide range of venture capital, growth equity funds, and listed patient capital vehicles and leveraged these relationships to deliver a number of unique co-investment opportunities aligned to ISIF's long-term strategic mandate. James is currently the Chairman of the European Venture Fund Investor Network, a pan-European platform for dialogue launched in 2011 by major national investors in European VC.

Education, Personal, and Fellowship

James holds a BSc in theoretical physics and an MSc in computational science from University College Dublin. He has been a CFA charterholder since 2012.

James is mentored by Brian Caulfield, Venture Partner at Draper Esprit, and Aaron Gershenberg, Managing Partner at SVB Capital. He is a member of Class 24, serving his fellowship at the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.