Ben Nahir, PhD, is a Partner at Elevate Capital, a Portland-based venture firm that backs underrepresented founders and high-impact innovation across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. A neuroscientist-turned-investor, he brings a data-driven approach to sourcing, diligencing, and supporting early-stage companies, helping scale them into sustainable, high-growth businesses. Since joining Elevate in 2018, Ben has been instrumental in launching and managing several of the firm’s flagship vehicles, including Elevate Capital Fund II, the Elevate Innovation Gap Funds, and Oregon’s SSBCI Venture Direct Program.
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Widely regarded as a collaborative mentor and connector, Ben actively coaches founders while serving on boards and in advisory roles across Elevate’s portfolio. He has been a cornerstone of Oregon’s startup ecosystem for over a decade through his work with TiE Oregon Angels and TiE Global Angels, where he helped deploy more than $7.5 million into 45 startups worldwide. Ben holds a BS in Mathematical Biology from Harvey Mudd College, an MBA from Portland State University, and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Florida.

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