Jim focuses on creating and funding new ventures in the sustainability, clean technology, and special technologies (e.g. nanotechnology, materials and technology systems) sectors. He has over 20 years of technology and leadership experience across a variety of organizations and roles designing, engineering, and deploying sophisticated technology platforms. Jim formerly served as a Navy F-14 & FA-18 pilot, including duties flying over 200 combat missions from an aircraft carrier, serving as a TOPGUN Instructor, and leading the Navy’s Adversary Program. He also gained broad experience in emerging aircraft and weapons system design, testing and procurement, and was deeply involved in many of the military’s IT modernization initiatives.

Matheson serves on the boards of Flagship portfolio companies Advanced Electron Beams, Black Duck Software, Frontier Energy, Mascoma Energy Corporation, Midori, Novomer and Oasys Water and is Chairman of the Board of Genstruct and Ze-gen. He was previously a director of e-Dialog, Yantra and Flamenco Networks. Jim spearheaded Flagship Venture’s role as the Department of Energy’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

He is on the Board of New York-based hedge fund Black Horse Capital, the National Board of the Clean Tech Open, and the Center for Women & Enterprise, and is actively involved in numerous entrepreneurial and venture capital organizations including the Department of Energy's Biomass Technical Advisory Committee, CLF (Conservation Law Foundation) Ventures, New England Clean Energy Council & Clean Energy Center, the MIT Enterprise Forum, The Deshpande Center, and The Service Academy Business Network.

Matheson earned an MBA from The Harvard Business School, a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and retired in 2008 as a Commander in the US Naval Reserves.

Jim is a Board Member for the Center for Women & Enterprise.