Kevin Kinsella is the founder of Avalon Ventures. He has specialized in the formation, financing and development of more than 125 early-stage companies, including: Athena Neurosciences Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. [ONXX]; Sequana, Vertex Pharmaceuticals [VRTX], Synaptics [SYNA], Vocera Communications [VCRA], Amira Pharmaceuticals (acquired by BMS), AnaptysBio, JNANA and Eikonizo. Mr. Kinsella was the founding chairman of Athena Neurosciences, Aurora Biosciences, Landmark Graphics, NeoRx, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Synaptics, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, X-Ceptor and Sequana Therapeutics.

Prior to founding Avalon, Mr. Kinsella worked for Solar Turbines International (Caterpillar Tractor) where he directed all international joint ventures, barter and counter-trade. Previously, he was an advisor to the Peruvian government in National Nutrition Planning where he developed the first commercialization plan for Quinoa; ran a technology exchange program between the U.S. and Latin America based in Mexico City; and, taught algebra at the American High School in Beirut, Lebanon. He was also a guest op-ed columnist for the Boston Herald American.

Mr. Kinsella is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) with a Bachelor of Science degree in management, with minors in electrical engineering and political science. He holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (“SAIS”) and conducted post-graduate work in political economy on a Rotary International Fellowship at the University of Stockholm, Sweden. He is a member of the Circumnavigators Club, an elite group of explorers who have gone around the world in a continuous trip using multiple modes of transport.

Mr. Kinsella won the 2006 Tony Award for producing the mega-hit Broadway musical, Jersey Boys, and partnered with Rhino Records (Time Warner) in producing the Grammy Award-winning Jersey Boys Original Cast Recording, which has gone Double Platinum (selling over 2 million copies). In 2012, Mr. Kinsella also received a second Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical for Jesus Christ Superstar. He is an investor in the London Production of Book of Mormon. Kinsella is a producer of Heirloom (a webseries) and the indie film Long Nights, Short Mornings, which premiered at SXSW (South by Southwest in Austin, TX) in 2016.

Mr. Kinsella is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Kinsella Estates Winery (Healdsburg, California), produces the highest rated premium Dry Creek Valley cabernet sauvignon, receiving 95 and 96-point ratings from The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. His collection of California Plein Air art, housed at the Kinsella Library in La Jolla, is among the best in the world.