Bioengineering Alumnus Launches Venture Capital Fund Focused on San Diego MedTech Startups

Garrett Smith, a University of California San Diego bioengineering alumnus, has launched ReefHaven Ventures. This new venture capital fund centers on early-stage medical technology startups located in San Diego. Smith brings decades of industry experience to this role, having previously led startups through FDA approval and served as an executive at major organizations like Johnson and Johnson Innovation.

ReefHaven Ventures focuses on companies operating at the intersection of medical technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Smith views the regional innovation landscape as highly competitive but notes a shortage of local early-stage investors. The fund aims to bridge this gap by providing both capital and operational guidance to new ventures.

The firm has already completed its first three investments in companies with strong ties to the university. These include KatoMed, which develops navigation tools for spine surgery, Acurion, a firm working on oncology precision medicine, and Dragon Vascular, which focuses on stroke treatment technology. Smith plans to support more than two dozen San Diego startups over the next few years.

Beyond providing financial backing, ReefHaven Ventures maintains a presence at the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur. Smith and his partner, Nicholas Mourlas, host office hours to offer mentorship and strategic advice to students and faculty. This initiative connects academic research with practical market pathways, helping founders refine their commercialization strategies and navigate complex regulatory requirements.

Smith draws inspiration from the biology of a reef, viewing his firm as a component of a larger, interdependent ecosystem. By reinvesting in the local community and supporting the next generation of founders, he intends to ensure that breakthroughs discovered on campus reach the patients who need them most.