Kevin L. Passarello is the Director of Translational Programs and Development with the Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative at the University of Virginia. The Biocomplexity Institute is a leading research institute where scientists, who are pioneers in the field of biocomplexity research, take a transdisciplinary, team science approach to predict, explain, and visualize the behavior of massively interacting living systems and develop practical solutions to large-scale, real-world problems in fields as varied as molecular science, transportation and logistics, and policy analysis.
Kevin is a former shareholder and holds the position “of counsel” with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. At the firm, he focused his practice on corporate finance and emerging technology companies. Kevin led university technology transfer initiatives, co-chaired the firm’s blockchain practice, and started its “autonomous things” group. In addition to his legal experience, Kevin is a serial entrepreneur with a proven global operations and management record. Kevin has been an entrepreneur-in-residence at both the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech University. He also served for three years as an Innovation Fellow at Virginia Tech. Kevin received his bachelor’s degree as valedictorian of St. Vincent College in 1983, where he studied philosophy and classical languages. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1986, after which time he served as law clerk to the (Late) Hon. Carol Los Mansmann of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
After practicing at large law firms, Kevin transitioned to the world of start-ups and commercial ventures in 1999. He co-founded venture-backed technology companies in the areas of enterprise software and mobile hardware with successful exits. Kevin also co-founded a small- to mid-cap private equity management and advisory firm that effected more than $500 million in M&A transactions. The firm’s related fund still retains a substantial investment in a $100 million manufacturing business on whose board he is a director. Kevin served in various capacities in these companies, including president, chief operating officer, and general counsel. As part of his business ventures, Kevin raised capital from preeminent funds domestically and abroad, including Sequoia Capital, Hg Capital, and L Catterton, as well as from Microsoft and other corporate partners. In 2014, his most recent venture was a company he co-founded, focused on predictive analytics and artificial intelligence in health care (which remains active). Kevin has hands-on international business experience in Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Kevin’s experience encompasses emerging companies and technology transactions; corporate finance; venture capital and private equity; university technology transfer; blockchain; autonomous vehicles and “things;” intellectual property and licensing; mergers and acquisitions; corporate law and governance; legislative and regulatory affairs; and not-for-profit organizations. He has served as a director of Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties and sat on the President’s Advisory Council for the National Capitol Region. Kevin advises the Commercialization Fund of Virginia Commonwealth University. He is past president of the Windy Hill Development Corporation, which has built 310 affordable “workforce” and elderly housing units throughout northern Virginia, and leveraged Kevin’s experience with low-income housing and historic tax credits. Kevin was also a director, Chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee, and member of the Executive Committee at Saint Vincent College. He and his wife actively support the Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia and other charities.
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