A key differentiator between OneVentures and other fund managers is that the company is led by a team of executives who have had first hand experience in early stage high growth technology companies and successfully exited businesses as the business owners.
Our investee companies stand to benefit from the breadth of knowledge and business expertise of our team, led by a former successful entrepreneur, and encompassing over 70 years experience in the target investment sectors, 10 years in R&D and 20 years in venture capital.
Dr Michelle Deaker |
Managing Partner and Executive Director |

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Michelle established OneVentures in October 2006, coming into the venture capital industry as a successful entrepreneur. Her company, E Com Industries became the leaders in prepaid card and electronic voucher technologies in Australia and was acquired by a UK publicly listed company returning $30m cash to investors. Through her interest in high growth companies, Michelle has provided advice for, invested in and raised capital for emerging technology companies. She has extensive experience in the development of early stage companies, a strong background in Australian R&D and expertise in international business expansion.
Read more about Michelle >>
Michelle has worked in the IT Industry for over 10 years as a successful business owner and entrepreneur. The company she founded, E Com Industries, as the predominant provider of gift cards and owners of www.giftvouchers.com, serviced over 100 major Australian retail brands including Coles Myer and Woolworths expanding operations into the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. In December 2005, E Com was acquired for $30m cash, returning over 4.6 times investment to shareholders and achieving an IRR of over 30% despite the tech sector crash in 2000.
Post acquisition, Michelle was retained for 12 months to oversee further global expansion of the technology and to undertake new business development activities (off-shore and on-shore) for the acquirer, Retail Decisions PLC.
For three years prior to establishing E Com, Michelle was the Managing Director of Sydney-based computer and web design firm, Networks Beyond 2000. In addition to her obvious business acumen, Michelle has over 10 years experience in research and development with leading Australian Universities and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) where she not only worked in technical areas but also in corporate public affairs.
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons First Class) Degree (University of Sydney) and, as a recipient of both Commonwealth and CSIRO Postgraduate Research Awards completed a Master of Science Degree (University of Sydney) and was awarded her PhD in Applied Science (University of Canberra). Michelle was the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee and subsequently selected as a Queens Trust representative, has lectured in the Faculty of Applied Science, guest lectured MBA marketing students, was a representative on Academic Board, Faculty Board and the Student Welfare Committee. She also established the Canberra University Postgraduate Association and Canberra Tertiary Tutoring College.
Michelle currently resides on the Boards of two non-profit organisations: McDonald College, Australia’s leading performing arts school, and Round It Up Australia, a retail based charity. She is also a member of the Australian Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) and the Entrepreneurs Organisation (EO).
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Dr Paul Kelly |
General Partner & Executive Director |

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Paul
serves as a member of the Investment Committee and Executive
Director of the Manager providing representation for
OneVentures’ funds and investee companies both here in
Australia and on the east coast of the United States. An
Australian physician, serial entrepreneur and experienced
biotechnology and life sciences executive, he currently
resides in Boston, has over 25 years experience in clinical
medicine and medical science and 15 years experience in
commercialising life science related technologies in
Australia, Europe and North America.
Read more about Paul>>
Paul has over recent years assisted and led early-stage
and mid stage companies achieve business results in
order to attract funding and transform their ideas,
technologies and products into sustainable successful
businesses.
Paul joined the OneVentures team in June 2008 following
the merger of Andover Venture Partners and OneVentures.
Paul was most recently CEO of Medcenter Holdings Inc. a
Latin America based on-line pharmaceutical marketing
company, a position he held until December 2007.
Previously he served as President and CEO of Orchid
Cellmark (Nasdaq:ORCH), the worlds leading provider of
genetic testing services, from June 2003. During his
tenure at both companies he developed and implemented
major operational and strategic restructurings. From
1995 to 2001, Dr. Kelly served as CEO of Gemini Genomics
(Nasdaq:GMNI), a clinical genomics company which he
co-founded in 1995 to discover and commercialize novel
gene-based targets. At Gemini, Dr. Kelly positioned the
company for one of the UK’s largest ever biotechnology
IPOs, completed strategic corporate acquisitions in
Sweden and Canada, and negotiated collaborations with
some of the worlds leading research institutions. In
2001, Dr. Kelly oversaw the company’s successful merger
with Sequenom (Nasdaq:SQNM), valuing Gemini at over
$250M, after which he served for a short period as
Executive Vice President.
Before becoming a biotechnology executive, Dr. Kelly had
a distinguished career as a researcher and physician
specializing in endocrinology at St Vincent’s Hospital,
Sydney, Australia. While serving as a Research
Physician at the Garvan Institute for Medical Research
in Sydney, Paul authored over 100 scientific
publications, largely in genetic epidemiology of common
metabolic disorders.
Paul has co-founded a number of other companies in the
health sciences and technology arena, including MEARS
Technologies, Inc. and AgaMatrix, Inc (a consumer
medical device company), all based in the greater Boston
area. Both companies form the basis of Andover Group’s
Venture Fund I.
Paul has served on national governmental advisory
bodies, as well as on the boards of public and private
companies. He served on the Board of Directors of the
American Society of Medicine, Law and Ethics from 2005
to 2008. Dr. Kelly is a graduate of the University of
New South Wales where he received his Bachelor of
Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Honours), and Doctor of
Medicine degrees. He is a Fellow of the Australasian
College of Physicians and is a Member of the Australian
Institute of Company Directors.
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Brisbane General Partner |
A
third Founding Partner with extensive experience in
early stage company commercialisation will head up our
Brisbane office. We view Brisbane as a rich source of
early stage deal flow.
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