Board of Directors
Chairman
Geoffrey W. Smith
Managing Partner, Ascent Biomedical Ventures
- Geoff has been an active founder, manager, and investor in healthcare and technology companies since 1995. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Biomerix Corporation, Anterios Inc., Metronome Therapeutics, TargAnox, Inc., and Vivasure Medical Limited and is a Board Observer for Cara Therapeutics.
Geoff is a Visiting Scholar at Rockefeller University where he founded and directs the Science & Economics Program and is a faculty member at the Center for Clinical and Translation Science. He is also a member of the Leadership Council of the Biomedical Research Institute at Brigham & Women's Hospital. At the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Geoff is a member of the External Advisory Committee for the Mount Sinai Institutes of Clinical & Translational Sciences and a member of the Graduate School of Biological Sciences Oversight Committee.
Earlier in his career, Geoff was a corporate attorney in New York City. Prior to receiving his law degree, he served as a Research Associate at Harvard Business School.
Geoff received a B.A. (with honors) from Williams College and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Avi Komtez, M.D.
Partner, Ascent Biomedical Ventures
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Avi has more than 18 years experience in the healthcare industry, several of which have been focused in private and public investing. Prior to joining Ascent Biomedical Ventures, Avi was the head of corporate development at a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on pediatrics. In this role Avi successfully closed several partnerships with large pharmaceutical companies, supported the head of marketing and sales with commercial analyses, and as part of the executive management team developed the business strategy. Prior to this, Avi spent several years in the Healthcare Practice at McKinsey & Company in New York. Avi worked for several multinational pharmaceutical companies on projects including developing a nutraceutical strategy, assessing technical, clinical and regulatory development risks for pharmaceutical products, augmenting pipeline product valuation methodologies, and organizational change and cost-cutting efforts. Avi began his career as a clinician in South Africa and went on to found and build a group of clinics in South Africa.
Avi received his medical doctorate from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, South Africa.
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