Mark Modzelewski,
Co-Founder & Executive Director - Water Innovations Alliance
Mark is a seasoned technology entrepreneur, executive, investor and visionary, currently focused on developing several early stage ventures in cleantech and health 2.0.
Mark is the former managing director and co-founder of Bang Ventures, an investment firm focused on technology investments including Web 2.0, new energy innovations and medical devices. He recently launched You Be the VC, a groundbreaking entrepreneurial competition. He also co-founded New Europe Ventures, a Polish-based venture capital firm, as well as the Benet Group, Leonardo BioSystems, Lux Research and the NanoBusiness Alliance. He has served as a senior executive at NanoDynamics (and continues to advise the company), Opion, GolinHarris and NRW. In addition, he has consulted for companies ranging from NanoSys to Engelhard to Mastercard to Yahoo to eSpeed to Pixar to DaimlerChrysler.
Mark is a member of the Nanotechnology Technical Advisory Group to the President’s Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST). He was recognized by Forbes as a “powerbroker” and has been featured in Time, Newsweek, U.S. News, ABC, BBC, N.Y. Times, Business Week, Fortune and the Wall Street Journal, among others. Mark also appears regularly as a Fox Business News and CNBC technology commentator and on occasion serves as a co-host of SquawkBox. He was also a featured columnist for the Boston Herald’s Hub 2.0 column.
Before entering the private sector, Mark was an appointee in the Clinton Administration developing policy, legal and communication strategy efforts on issues including Y2K preparedness, U.S. mortgage and banking systems, the online transformation and integration of HUD and FHA programs, digital divide efforts, biotech and organic food standards, and regional economic development programs. He is a graduate of the U. Denver College of Law (JD) and Boston U. (BFA, Painting). He is an avid supporter of the arts and also funds numerous animal charities, in particular pit bull rescue organizations and groups that combat breed specific legislation.
Nathan Tinker,
Executive Director, New York Biotechnology Association
Josh Wolfe,
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Lux Capital
Josh is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lux Capital, focusing on investments in nanotechnology, semiconductors and life sciences. Josh manages Lux Capital’s investments in Nanosys and Cambrios, and serves on the Board of Directors of Crystal IS and Lux Research. Before forming Lux Capital, he worked in Salomon Smith Barney’s Investment Banking group, where his experience included a $4 billion hotel merger and a defense against an unsolicited LBO. Josh has also worked in capital markets while at Merrill Lynch on its Financial Futures & Options/Government Strategy desk and at Prudential Securities in its Municipal Finance department.
Prior to venturing into the financial world, Josh conducted and published cutting-edge AIDS/immunopathology research in Cell Vision and The Journal of Leukocyte Biology, leading medical/immunology journals. Josh graduated with distinction from Cornell University with a B.S. in Economics and Finance. He has been an invited guest speaker, lecturer, and panelist on nanotechnology for CNBC, CNN, Harvard, Yale, Wharton, Columbia, Cornell, Merrill Lynch, Credit Suisse First Boston, Capitol Hill, government labs, and officials in France, Canada, UK, Spain, Singapore, and Germany. Widely recognized as one of the preeminent minds in nanotechnology and finance, Josh has been invited by the White House and Canadian Government to advise government organizations on funding strategies.
Josh is a co-founder of The NanoBusiness Alliance, a columnist with Forbes Magazine and Editor of the monthly Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Tech Report.