Gifts at Work
Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Venture capitalist and Northeastern University graduate Richard D’Amore, BA’76, is inspired by Northeastern’s track record of producing innovations and graduates that contribute to the economy. His gift to establish the Anthony and Mary D’Amore Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund will spur innovations that drive economic growth and create jobs.
Named in honor of the donor’s parents, the fund will build on Northeastern's research strengths, especially in such areas as biotechnology, nanotechnology, and information technology, and heighten the university’s ability to commercialize research in these areas so that it has lasting impact.
“Northeastern is an institution that generates ideas and produces entrepreneurs who turn those ideas into businesses that fuel our economy,” said D’Amore, general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners. “The university has a history of educating entrepreneurs, such as Richard Egan, Roger Marino and Robert Shillman—people who have taken their Northeastern education and created vibrant, innovative businesses in our region. We need to make more of this possible, particularly through interdisciplinary work, which is where the greatest discoveries and innovations will be created in the years to come.”
“Richard D’Amore is an outstanding example of someone who has turned innovation and entrepreneurship into a remarkable career that has launched countless successful ventures, both here in greater Boston and around the world,” said Northeastern President Joseph Aoun. “We are deeply grateful for his commitment to Northeastern and his confidence in our ability to create and translate knowledge at the intersection of disciplines.”
D’Amore’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship has inspired him to give back to his alma mater before, when his joint contribution with Alan S. McKim ’88 established the McKim-D’Amore Distinguished Professorship of Global Management and Innovation. Motivated by their former professor’s accomplishments and contributions at Northeastern and in the business community, the two former students of Distinguished Professor Daniel McCarthy endowed the position.
D’Amore has been a venture capitalist for more than two decades. He co-founded North Bridge in 1994 and continues to serve as a general partner. In addition, he serves as a director of Phase Forward, Inc. and Veeco Instruments Inc. and sits on the board of a number of private companies.
D’Amore graduated summa cum laude with a BS in 1976 from Northeastern and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.
