Nare Janvelyan

Nare Janvelyan is a deep tech investor at Voyager Ventures, where she has been working since January 2024. She brings more than ten years of experience in decarbonisation, chemical sciences, and technology-driven business strategy. Her work focuses on supporting and scaling innovative technology companies, particularly those addressing sustainability, climate, and industrial transformation.

Before joining Voyager Ventures, Nare worked at the global management consulting firm Simon-Kucher for over four years. During her time there, she progressed from Senior Consultant to Manager and later to Senior Manager. In these roles, she led teams that developed go-to-market strategies for software and technology companies. Her work combined technical knowledge with commercial planning, pricing strategy, and market entry design for complex technology products.

Earlier in her career, Nare served as an Associate at Harvard University in 2019. She also spent nearly five years as a Research Assistant at Harvard between 2013 and 2018 under the supervision of Professor Cynthia M. Friend. During this period, she led a cross-disciplinary research collaboration involving multiple universities. The project focused on copper-based catalysts for sustainable chemical production, including synthesis, characterisation, catalytic testing, and computational modelling to improve production of acetaldehyde and hydrogen. She also worked as a Teaching Assistant at Harvard from 2014 to 2018.

Before Harvard, Nare was an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley, working under Professor Stephen R. Leone. Her research used ultrafast pump-probe photoelectron spectroscopy to study excited state dynamics of metalloporphyrins. She designed and built experimental systems using UV pumps and x-ray probes generated through high harmonic generation. Her project received an independent undergraduate research fellowship. She also worked as an Office Assistant in the Integrative Biology Department at Berkeley from 2009 to 2011.

Nare holds a PhD in Chemical Physics from Harvard University. Her doctoral thesis examined the relationship between catalytic activity, material structure, and surface composition for sustainable catalysis. She also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from UC Berkeley and participated in the Haas School of Business programme Business for Arts, Sciences and Engineering.

Nare Janvelyan was born and raised with a strong interest in science and problem solving, which led her to pursue formal education in chemistry and physics from an early stage. She began her academic journey at the University of California, Berkeley, where she enrolled in the Bachelor of Science programme in Chemistry. During her undergraduate years, she also joined the Haas School of Business programme Business for Arts, Sciences and Engineering, which allowed her to gain early exposure to business thinking alongside technical training. 

From 2009 to 2011, she worked as an Office Assistant in the Integrative Biology Department at UC Berkeley, gaining administrative experience while continuing her studies. Between February 2012 and July 2013, she served as an Undergraduate Research Assistant under Professor Stephen R. Leone, where she carried out advanced research in chemical physics. Her work focused on ultrafast pump-probe photoelectron spectroscopy to study excited state dynamics of metalloporphyrins. She designed and developed experiments using a table-top UV pump and x-ray probe created by high harmonic generation in vacuum. Her proposed research project was awarded an independent undergraduate research fellowship, recognising the scientific value of her work.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Nare continued her academic career at Harvard University, where she pursued a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Physics. During her doctoral studies, she was actively involved in the Harvard Graduate Consortium on Energy and Environment. Her PhD research focused on metal-based nanomaterials for the decarbonisation of the chemical production industry. Her doctoral thesis examined the correlation between catalytic activity, material structure, and surface composition for sustainable catalysis. From August 2013 to May 2018, she worked as a Research Assistant at Harvard under the supervision of Professor Cynthia M. Friend. In this role, she successfully led a large collaboration between students and professors from multiple institutions. 

The project covered the synthesis, characterisation, catalytic testing, and computational modelling of copper-based catalysts to support sustainable chemical production of acetaldehyde and hydrogen. At the same time, between 2014 and 2018, she also served as a Teaching Assistant at Harvard, supporting undergraduate and graduate teaching activities. Alongside her academic responsibilities, she was active in student life, serving as a Social Fellow at Dudley House, Harvard University, from August 2014 to May 2017. In 2018, she also participated as a Student Consultant with the Consulting Club at MIT, gaining experience in applied business problem solving.

In February 2019, Nare became an Associate at Harvard University, a role she held until December 2019 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following this, she transitioned into management consulting when she joined Simon-Kucher in November 2019. Over the next four years, she progressed through several roles at the firm, starting as Senior Consultant, then becoming Manager in January 2022, and later Senior Manager in July 2023. Throughout her time at Simon-Kucher, she led teams developing go-to-market strategies for software and technology companies, combining her technical background with commercial strategy, pricing, and market development work. Her consulting career provided her with broad exposure to technology markets and corporate growth planning.

In January 2024, Nare joined Voyager Ventures as an Investor, marking her transition into venture capital and deep tech investing. At Voyager, she applies more than a decade of experience in decarbonisation, chemical sciences, and technology strategy to support emerging technology companies, particularly in areas related to sustainability, climate solutions, and industrial transformation. 

Alongside her professional career, Nare is actively involved in the climate and entrepreneurship community. She serves as a Mentor at Entrepreneurs for Impact, a leading peer network for growth-stage founders, executives, and investors working in climate technology, clean energy, and sustainability. The organisation brings together leaders managing more than twenty billion dollars in combined market value and investment capital dedicated to tackling climate change.

Nare Janvelyan’s vision is to accelerate the global transition to sustainable and low-carbon systems by supporting technologies that solve real industrial and environmental challenges. She believes that scientific research, when combined with strong business execution, can transform energy, materials, and manufacturing at scale. Her focus is on enabling companies that reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen long-term economic resilience. She aims to help founders build solutions that are practical, reliable, and commercially viable while contributing to climate stability and environmental responsibility. Through investment, mentorship, and collaboration, she seeks to create lasting impact across industries and future generations.

Nare Janvelyan has received recognition for the quality and impact of her scientific and academic work throughout her career. During her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, her independent research project on ultrafast spectroscopy was awarded an Undergraduate Independent Research Fellowship, acknowledging the originality and technical value of her work. Her doctoral research at Harvard University, focused on sustainable catalysis and decarbonisation of chemical production, was widely supported through competitive academic funding and institutional research programmes.