UF INNOVATE | PATHWAYS VIRTUAL EVENT: Developing an Innovative Idea Into a Product

Details

Learn how serial entrepreneur John Engels partnered with UF and academic innovators to develop innovative ideas into products. John will share his insights into technology development and his experience successfully overcoming commercialization challenges to bring biomedical products to market. He will discuss the importance of the business model, team, and what academic innovators can do to advance commercialization.

Our speaker:

John Engels is a founder, investor and operator focused on new technology development and commercialization. John leads Cormatrix Cardiovascular, a disruptive company developing the first truly regenerative heart valve. He is the co-founder of UF startup Andante Biologics, developing novel biologic therapies to overcome chronic stress and age-related diseases and disorders.

John co-founded UF startup AxoGen (NASDAQ:AXGN, Russell 2000), a leading medical technology company dedicated to peripheral nerve regeneration.

At AxoGen from 2002 to 2017, John served in various leadership roles, including sourcing, negotiating for, and managing its flagship products; managing seed, venture and growth capital financing; setting up and running manufacturing operations; and leading its international sales and business development efforts expanding into Europe, South America, and Asia.

John started his career at CACM, a boutique investment banking firm that pioneered innovative energy and emissions trading markets.

John has recently been a board member, investor in, or advisor to:

•  MMI, a private robotic microsurgery company bringing super dexterity to surgery;
•  HCW Biologics (NASDAQ:HCWB), developing novel therapeutics for inflammation and age-related disorders;
•  BioFlorida, the voice of Florida’s life sciences industry;
•  UF Innovate, supporting innovation at the University of Florida;
•  and ECM Therapeutics.

He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, and a BA from the University of Chicago.

Contact Info:

UF Innovate | Pathways
ufinnovatepathways@research.ufl.edu