Skip to main content
Produced by W2D1 Media. Work with us →

About Elaine Stead

Elaine Stead is a Partner at Main Sequence, the Australian deep tech venture capital firm, where she leads investment in its Humanity Scale Healthcare challenge.

She trained as a scientist, completing a PhD in biochemistry with a focus on stem cell biology at the University of Adelaide, before moving to the commercial side of research. She founded Blue Sky VC, Human VC and Tribe Global Ventures, and was Director of New Ventures and Entrepreneurship at the Australian National University. Across her career she has backed more than 80 startups in Australia, the United States and South-East Asia.

On Day One she has discussed bravery and diversity in investing on First Cheque, and set out her investment thesis on Investment Thesis with Kali Norman.

In conversation.

2 episodes

Start hereElaine Stead's Investment ThesisShe sets out how she invests in healthcare at Main Sequence; the First Cheque episode is a broader talk on bravery and diversity in investing.

In their own words.

“Bravery is being fearful of something, but doing it anyway. It's not about not being fearful.”
Elaine Stead — Elaine Stead discusses bravery, diversity, and changing the investing ecosystemFirst Cheque with Cheryl Mack & Maxine Minter · 17 December 2023

The path so far.

  1. Now

    Partner · Main Sequence

  2. Earlier

    Director of New Ventures and Entrepreneurship · Australian National University (ANU)

  3. Earlier

    Founder · Tribe Global Ventures

  4. Earlier

    Founder · Human VC

  5. Earlier

    Founder / Head of Venture Capital · Blue Sky VC

Sources: mseq.vc

Main Sequence on Day One

Main Sequence is an Australian venture capital firm that invests in deep tech companies, including those built on public research.

4 people · 10 episodes
Main Sequence

Across the network.

Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 29 October 2026

Put your brand alongside the voices founders, investors and operators come to hear.

Explore sponsorship

One useful lesson,
once a month.

Get conversations and practical lessons from the founders, investors and operators on Day One.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime.

Produced by W2D1 Media

Want a show of your own?

W2D1 Media — the team behind the Day One Network, which helped build Blackbird Ventures' Wild Hearts — builds and produces podcasts for funds, founders and operators. If you want a show built around your brand, let's talk.

Start a show →