Michael Lee

Michael Lee is the Managing Director at Syngenta Group Ventures, where he oversees venture capital investments and deal evaluation for the global agricultural corporation's innovation arm. Prior to his current position, he worked at Unilever, holding strategic roles across both the Foods R&D and Ventures divisions. His academic credentials include science degrees from Durham University and an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management. Leveraging his technical expertise, he completed postdoctoral research in insect biochemistry, co-authored 20 academic papers in the field, and was named a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society. Additionally, he is a Kauffman Fellow who actively structures early-stage collaboration models between emerging startups and established agribusinesses. Lee currently focuses on advancing agriculture technology and food innovation by executing strategic corporate venture partnerships and evaluating new early-stage investment opportunities.