Mario Augusto M.

Mario Augusto M. serves as Managing Partner at Cogent Venture Partners, a global advisory firm focused on the bioeconomy, and brings over two decades of investment experience. In addition to this role, Mario is an Advisory Board Member and Strategic Partner at First Bight Ventures, a Houston-based early-stage VC fund specializing in synthetic biology. Mario also provides strategic advice to Ferment, a company creation studio leveraging advanced cell programming, and is a Co-Founder of Purposit International. Previous positions include Head of Novozymes Investments, where Mario managed a $60 million corporate investment arm, and board roles at various biotechnology firms such as Microbiogen and Bactolife. Mario holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and certificates in Private Equity and Venture Capital from Harvard Business School.