James Donovan

James Donovan is a seasoned professional currently serving as the Partner and Head of Incubation at Convergent Research.2 With a diverse background spanning various industries, Donovan specializes in facilitating growth through strategic partnerships, investments, and the establishment of new ventures, particularly in the Food & Agriculture sector.

Professional Experience

Donovan's career trajectory includes several notable positions:

• Partner - Head of Incubation at Convergent Research (December 2022 - Present)12
• Associate Director at Accenture (November 2021 - December 2022)1
• Director - Head of Venture Studio at Founders Intelligence (January 2021 - December 2022)2
• Manager at Founders Intelligence (October 2018 - January 2021)2
• Senior Strategist - Design Strategy at Publicis.Sapient (April 2017 - March 2018)2
• Digital Strategy at Deloitte Digital (September 2015 - April 2017)2

Education and Expertise

Donovan holds a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Science in Theory and History of International Relations from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His areas of expertise include:

• Business development
• Strategic partnerships
• Investments
• Startup mentoring
• Venture studios
• Food & agriculture
• Partnership growth

Current Role at Convergent Research

At Convergent Research, Donovan leads the Focused Research Organizations (FRO) program, supporting scientific founders in launching large-scale, tightly coordinated, public benefit projects.2 The organization merges best practices from academic research, corporate R&D, and startup methodologies to create uniquely positioned organizations that bring scientific breakthroughs to market.2

Additional Ventures and Interests

Donovan is also involved in several other ventures and initiatives:

• Co-founder of Super Kingdom, exploring mycelium applications across medicine, biomaterials, bioremediation & food2
• Trustee at Parenting Mental Health, an organization dedicated to supporting families dealing with mental health challenges2
• Previously served as a Founding Advisor for Causative Labs, focusing on building scalable products and ventures that steer the AI revolution towards long-term human flourishing2

James Donovan's diverse experience and expertise in venture creation, strategic partnerships, and innovation make him a valuable asset in his role at Convergent Research and in the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.