Dr. Ethan E. Mann - MBA, Ph.D

 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 

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Dr. Ethan E. Mann, Ph.D., M.B.A. serves as our Chief Financial Officer, bringing an exceptional combination of chemistry, biology, and finance expertise. Dr. Mann earned his Master of Business Administration with a focus in Finance from the University of Colorado Denver, a B.S. in Chemistry from Chadron State College (Nebraska), and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His credentials are further distinguished by his Postdoctoral Training Fellowship at Ohio State University Medical Center, creating a uniquely qualified executive who bridges scientific innovation with financial strategy.

As Venture Partner at LemVega Capital, Dr. Mann provided critical advisory services on biotechnology investments, with particular emphasis on cell therapy, medical devices, medical technology, agricultural biotechnology, and advanced therapies. His global market perspective on fundraising, healthcare trends, and competitive analysis proved invaluable as he collaborated with other venture partners to determine strategic directions that maximized investment potential.

During his tenure as Managing Partner at Blacktip Ventures, LLC, Dr. Mann transformed portfolio companies through strategic planning for formation and pivot activities. His expertise spanned advanced industries including medical technology, bioscience, pharmaceuticals, bioagriculture, defense, aerospace, and advanced materials. His comprehensive business support encompassed executive leadership, business plan development, market research, go-to-market planning, value proposition creation, competitive analysis, proforma development, assumption validation, equity financing, non-dilutive financing, operations navigation, and regulatory planning.

As Chief Operating Officer at Sharklet Technologies, Inc. in Aurora, Colorado, Dr. Mann orchestrated a successful financial exit to foreign buyers and completed the integration of asset/IP acquisition from a previous contracting firm. He spearheaded operations to commercialize the innovative Sharklet micropatterned technology globally across medical technology, surgical, and consumer markets. His leadership was instrumental in developing FDA 510k strategies for the Sharklet Foley Catheter with COOK Medical and the Sharklet Endotracheal Tube, demonstrating his regulatory expertise and commercial vision.

During his Graduate Fellowship at Nebraska Medical Center, Dr. Mann conducted groundbreaking research on Staphylococcus aureus infectious disease, uncovering molecular mechanisms resulting in tolerance and resistance to the host immune system and conventional antibiotic therapies. His work in Dr. Ken Bayles' laboratory focused on the genetic influence of cid and lrg loci and their functional conservation with apoptotic loci in eukaryotic organisms, revealing critical pathological overlaps between biofilms and cancerous tumors.

As CEO of Organic Liquid Spray, LLC, Dr. Mann drove impressive revenue growth for Organishield through strategic turnaround initiatives, quality implementation, and expanded sales channels. His vision for platform development of active ingredients created application expansion opportunities and enterprise value generation. Under his leadership, the company doubled annual sales from 2023 to 2024, demonstrating his ability to build strategic plans that support growth, recruit top talent, and align teams toward common objectives.

While serving as Vice President of Research at ForCast Ortho, Inc., Dr. Mann led crucial research activities under a National Science Foundation SBIR Grant. His expertise in managing consultants and employees culminated in the successful assembly and formulation of a 510(k) package for FDA submission. His leadership of non-clinical studies in sheep demonstrated a significant reduction in prosthetic joint infection (PJI) using prototype devices, showcasing his ability to translate research into practical medical solutions.

As Director of Product Development at MuscleSound, Inc., Dr. Mann transformed the company's software application and SaaS model platform into a validated Software as Medical Device (SaMD) system. In just 11 months, he implemented a comprehensive design history file and prepared regulatory filings for SaMD submission. His technical expertise facilitated successful beta deployments with prestigious healthcare systems including Duke University, demonstrating his ability to bridge technical innovation with practical healthcare applications.

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