Ashley Cornelison

Ashley Cornelison serves as the Executive Director (ED) at Portal Innovations, a leading venture

development engine specializing in nurturing life science concepts from ideation to market

success. With a national footprint spanning key locations including Chicago, Boston, Houston

and Atlanta, Portal Innovations provides critical resources such as seed capital, cutting-edge

laboratories, equipment and management expertise to startup enterprises.

In her role as the ED for the Atlanta office, Ashley orchestrates strategic initiatives, spearheads

the Atlanta team, and oversees all operational and fiscal aspects of the 35,000 square foot

facility situated at Science Square Labs. Collaborating closely with the Venture Development

team at Portal, Ashley cultivates a robust pipeline of prospective companies primed for

seed-stage investment.

Before joining Portal in 2024, Ashley served as the Vice President of Venture Development at

the Georgia Research Alliance, Inc. (GRA), a distinguished public-private partnership that helps

universities in the state to conduct more research and create more companies. As VP, Ashley

directed strategic initiatives, managed a multi-million dollar portfolio of commercialization

grants and loans and provided guidance to university scientists in their entrepreneurial

endeavors. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in identifying promising early-stage companies

for investment through the GRA Venture Fund, LLC, conducting due diligence and administering

fund operations.



Ashley received her B.S. in Business Administration in 2008 from the Terry College of Business at

the University of Georgia and began her career working in contract law at an Atlanta-based law

firm. Actively engaged in various industry organizations, Ashley sits on the boards of the Georgia

Intellectual Property Alliance, Georgia Bio, and the Global Center for Medical Innovation. She is

a 2016 alumna of the Venture Capital Institute and maintains membership with the Association

of University Technology Managers.