ReefHaven Ventures is a San Diego-based early-stage venture firm founded by Garrett Smith, PhD, a UC San Diego Bioengineering alumnus and founder-operator who has built and exited healthcare companies to Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Medtronic. The firm is embedded within the UC San Diego innovation ecosystem, working closely with the UCSD MedTech Accelerator, Jacobs School of Engineering, Schools of Medicine and Biological Sciences, and the Office of Innovation and Commercialization to source breakthrough companies before they are widely visible to the broader venture market.
ReefHaven backs early-stage US companies building at the intersection of AI and medical technology, across AI-enabled healthcare platforms, next-generation medical devices, precision diagnostics, and intelligent robotic systems.
The firm targets companies navigating the "valley of death" between academic research and commercial-scale clinical deployment, with particular strength in surgical navigation, oncology, vascular intervention, and clinical AI.
ReefHaven Ventures Fund I closed at $10M. Three investments have been made to date: KatoMed, Acurion, and Dragon Vascular, all sourced through the UC San Diego MedTech Accelerator and broader UCSD ecosystem.
The fund is pacing 1–2 new investments per quarter, targeting 25+ companies over the coming years. LP composition is not publicly disclosed.
Leadership
Garrett Smith, PhD is Founder and Managing Partner, a UC San Diego Bioengineering PhD who has founded and built medical device and healthcare companies through to successful exits to Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, and Medtronic.
Nicholas Mourlas, PhD is Investment Partner, bringing clinical and engineering expertise alongside prior investment experience across the medtech sector.
Investment Strategy
ReefHaven invests at seed and Series A, writing early checks into founders emerging from the UC San Diego ecosystem and adjacent academic and clinical institutions.
The firm's founder-operator team provides hands-on support navigating FDA regulatory pathways, clinical validation, and commercialization strategy, areas where most generalist funds offer limited practical guidance.
Representative prior personal investments by the team include Penumbra (acquired by Boston Scientific), Endotronix (acquired by Edwards Lifesciences), and Osanni Bio ($190M Series B led by Patient Square Capital, 2026).
Notable Investments
Garrett Smith, PhD — Founder & Managing Partner
garrett@reefhavenventures.com
Nicholas Mourlas, PhD — Investment Partner
United States
