Our Team
Karen LeVert
Founder & Managing Partner
Karen LeVert, Managing Partner of LeVert Ventures, has enjoyed a successful executive career in IT and Finance, including running a 500-person service center for a $4B insurance company. LeVert has launched two accelerators to commercialize early-stage technologies from university research labs through the co-founding of Southeast TechInventures (optoelectronics applications) and later Ag TechInventures, where she commercialized early-stage technologies from university research labs for close to two decades.
A leader in her field, LeVert serves on a host of university, association, and company boards. In 2022, she received the Demeter Award of Excellence from Women in Agribusiness. LeVert holds a BBA in Information Technology from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Dayton.
“I am fueled by my interest in advancing scientific and technological progress. I leverage my network and my expertise in corporate development and licensing to connect founders to both strategics and the academics leading interdisciplinary research at major research universities to drive this progress.”
Hannah Webb
Venture Partner
Hannah Webb, Venture Partner at LeVert Ventures, uses her strong technical background and business expertise to conduct due diligence, and leverages her robust network within the agtech community to connect potential portfolio companies to individuals, organizations, and resources that will expand capabilities and foster strategic partnerships. Hannah has broad life science industry experience in leading corporate development and licensing, with deals across agriculture, animal health, and human health start-ups.
In her prior roles in business development, she closed several transactions with academia and industry on programs with the opportunity to be >$1B in peak sales, and contributed to two new venture creations and fundraising efforts for spin-offs of a small molecule platform company. In the agtech sector, she has a strong technical background, having worked at the post-harvest division of Sumitomo (then Pace International), identifying new modes of action for fungicide resistance and integrated pest management solutions with growers, as well as academic roles in food microbiology focused on understanding the best grower practices to limit food waste related to contamination.
In her spare time, Hannah enjoys finding new via ferrata climbs around the US, boxing, and trying to attend as many classical concerts as possible.
Currently, she is a mentor and Executive-in-Residence at North Carolina State University’s MBA program in Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization, serves on the committee of the RTP Chapter of the Licensing Executive Society, and is involved in multiple local mentoring activities in the Raleigh/Durham area. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology, Bachelor of Science in Microbiology (Central Washington University, Washington State University, respectively), and a Master of Microbial Biotechnology and an MBA from North Carolina State University. In addition, she holds a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.
“We are a small, approachable, and responsive team with access to deep networks in the corporations and businesses, funding institutions, and technical experts within the AgTech industry throughout the world. We have been involved in growing successful AgTech companies since 2013, the birth of AgTech as we know it, and are based in one of the world’s most active AgTech hubs. We lean-in to projects, fully commit to our people, go the extra 100 miles, and have the patience and belief essential to get our projects across the line.”
Nick White, PhD
Sr. Associate
Nick is part of the investment team and is based in Durham, NC. In his role, he researches, evaluates, and conducts technical due diligence on startups, patents, and emerging technologies. He also analyzes intellectual property assets, performs financial analysis, and assesses prospect product(s) and technology to determine if they can support the revenue growth potential identified, surfacing any technology issues or technical debt that might pose risks. He invests in building relationships with founders / stakeholders, early-stage venture firms, and key players at capital providers.
Nick started his career as a stockbroker in London before pursuing his passion in the life sciences and is now happily working at the intersection of business and start-ups. Nick loves the creative process, grit (and success), and relationship-building of starting a company and has been involved in entrepreneurship as an investor, founder, and operator for over 20 years. Nick is most proud of his two brilliant daughters, supports Arsenal and loves cooking. He has served on various Boards and has a PhD in molecular biology and genetics from St. Bartholomew’s and the London Hospital, University London and a BSc. Hons. in immunology and molecular biology from Kings College, University London.