Current Investments

Portfolio Involvement

Michael Sweeney has been part of InterWest's life sciences team since 2001, focusing on early-stage investment opportunities in the medical device sector. Sweeney is a board member of Applied Spine, Autonomic Technologies, Calypso Medical, Carbylan Biosurgery, Cardiac Dimensions, CardioMind, CVRx, Devax, Microfabrica, Paracor Medical, and USGI Medical. He was previously a board member of Fluidigm.

Sweeney is a pioneer of multiple anti-arrhythmia cardiac devices, and has more than 20 years of experience in the field of cardiovascular technology. Sweeney was the founding chief executive officer of Epicor Medical and founder of Ventritex, both highly successful InterWest portfolio companies.

Sweeney received his B.A. from Drake University.

Previous Representative Investments

Epicor Medical - acquired by St. Jude Medical (STJ)

A Word from Michael

"By far the most exciting aspect of venture capital is the opportunity to get involved early in the process of building a business around an especially promising technology or scientific discovery. My own experience in starting and managing successful companies is an asset I can put to work with entrepreneurs and portfolio companies... At InterWest, we are extremely involved, extremely hands-on, because our goal, always, is to add value beyond the capital we invest... The financial parameters of a deal have to make sense, of course, but our strength lies in our ability to help entrepreneurs deal with strategy, with operations, with the nuts and bolts of getting to market, and then to a position of profitable growth."