# Jeff Goater
Jeff Goater is a Partner at [The Column Group](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-column-group), a biotechnology venture capital firm, and a former chief executive officer of Surface Oncology and chief financial officer of Voyager Therapeutics, where he was a member of the founding management team.[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/) • [2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1) His career combines venture investing with senior operating roles in biotech, a profile that began with training as an AAV gene therapy research scientist and nearly a decade as a biopharma investment banker.[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
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| **Current role** | Partner, The Column Group (joined October 1, 2021 as Venture Partner)[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/) |
| **Prior operating roles** | CEO, Surface Oncology; CFO, Voyager Therapeutics (founding management team)[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/) |
| **Earlier career** | Managing director, Evercore Partners; advised on more than $100 billion in biopharma strategic transactions[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1) |
| **Education** | University of Rochester: BA biology (1997), MS pathology (2000), MBA Simon Business School (2001), MS microbiology/immunology (2004)[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) |
| **Surface Oncology IPO** | $120 million, April 2018; company grew to approximately 80 employees[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) |
| **Board seats** | Atavistik Bio, AviadoBio, Judo Bio, Kallyope, Remix Therapeutics, Ribon Therapeutics; Vaccinex since 2013[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1) • [3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) |
| **Research output** | 15 peer-reviewed publications and one review article[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) |
## Education and early career
Goater earned four degrees from the [University of Rochester](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-rochester): a BA in biology (1997), an MS in pathology (2000), an MBA from Simon Business School (2001), and an MS in microbiology/immunology (2004).[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) In 2001, while still at Rochester, he used a university-patented gene therapy technology to help start LAGeT, Inc., a company developing AAV gene therapy for orthopedic disorders.[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) He has co-authored 15 peer-reviewed publications and one review article.[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
He then spent nearly a decade in investment banking, most recently as a managing director at Evercore Partners, advising on more than $100 billion in strategic transactions in the biopharma industry.[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
## Surface Oncology and Voyager Therapeutics
As chief financial officer of Voyager Therapeutics, a member of its founding management team, Goater led the company's crossover financing, its initial public offering, and a strategic partnership with Sanofi Genzyme.[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/) • [2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
As CEO of Surface Oncology he led the completion of the company's $120 million IPO in April 2018 and grew the organization to approximately 80 employees.[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater) The two available accounts differ on how many programs reached the clinic during his tenure: his board bio states the company advanced four programs into clinical development and secured multiple strategic collaborations including a partnership with GlaxoSmithKline,[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1) while his University of Rochester alumni award citation says the IPO enabled two product programs into clinical trials.[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
## The Column Group
The Column Group announced Goater's hiring as Venture Partner on October 1, 2021.[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/) He is now a Partner at the firm, per his portfolio-company board bio.[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
The firm's model shapes his investing directly. The Column Group raised over $400 million for its fund TCG Labs-Soleil, a "venture-biotech" model that creates an integrated ecosystem to exclusively fund, discover, and develop single-asset biologic therapies.[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/)
## Board seats and advisory roles
Goater serves on the boards of Atavistik Bio, AviadoBio, Judo Bio, Kallyope, Remix Therapeutics, and [Ribon Therapeutics](https://www.edgepedia.org/ribon-therapeutics), and on the advisory board of Life Science Cares Boston.[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1) He has served on the board of Vaccinex, Inc. since 2013.[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
## By the numbers
- $120 million: Surface Oncology IPO, April 2018[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
- ~80: employees at Surface Oncology under his CEO tenure[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
- $100 billion+: biopharma transactions advised during his Evercore banking career[2](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
- $400 million+: The Column Group's TCG Labs-Soleil fund[1](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/)
- 15: peer-reviewed publications co-authored[3](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
## References
1. [Mr. Jeff Goater joins The Column Group as Venture Partner — The Column Group](https://www.thecolumngroup.com/mr-jeff-goater-joins-the-column-group-as-venture-partner/)
2. [Jeff Goater — Kenai Therapeutics board bio](https://www.kenaitx.com/fallace-1)
3. [Alumni Achievement Award Recipients: Jeff Goater — University of Rochester](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumni-awards/alumni-achievement-award-recipients/2019-jeff-goater)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Life-science venture and company creation › Biotech venture capital partners › Titles A to J*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license