Entrepreneurs in Residence
Seasoned entrepreneurs bridge the gap from lab to startup
OTD’s Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) engage directly with Harvard research groups to help advance technologies toward the launch of a startup.
Whether through informal conversations over coffee, or more involved discussions that may develop over weeks or months, EIRs are ready to share their experience.
EIRs become familiar with the latest research in Harvard labs, give advice on entrepreneurship and innovation to those who ask, and — when the right opportunity presents itself — help catalyze new startups around Harvard technologies.
To connect with a current EIR, simply introduce yourself via the contact links below. Or, to inquire about becoming an OTD EIR yourself, please contact us.
Harvard researchers may also wish to take advantage of OTD's Expert In Residence (XIR) program. The XIR program is designed to enable one-off conversations with experts in OTD's wider network, to quickly address tough questions in technology commercialization.
Current entrepreneurs in residence
Michael Natan, PhD
Michael has over 25 years of entrepreneurial activity in the life science space. He is currently Principal at 3PoundFlax, LLC, helping seed-stage life science companies with strategy, IP, operations, and financing...
Supporting growth
OTD’s EIR program is designed to allow experienced entrepreneurs to adapt to the needs and circumstances of the researchers and their innovations.
EIRs can make connections to prospective investors, and provide advice, mentorship and coaching about the startup process. They will offer counsel on business models, fundraising strategies, how to pitch an idea and how to address the inevitable unexpected business challenges.
When you talk about transferring research from the academic to the real world, the transfer is rarely successful without having talented, dedicated individuals to play a major role in that trajectory.
Isaac T. Kohlberg,
Senior Associate Provost and Chief Technology Development Officer
Past entrepreneurs in residence
Marcus Lovell Smith
Most recently CTO at Google Fiber, Marcus has had a long career in start-up companies, both here and the UK...
Karen Stein
Karen is the founder/CEO of Marketing Matters, a consulting firm specializing in strategy and new product development...
Fred von Gottberg, PhD
For more than 20 years, Fred has led business and technical teams in the specialty chemicals/materials science industry...
Paul A. Baier, MBA
As an entrepreneur and software executive, Paul has commercialized technology at four VC-backed startups...
Gus Simiao, MBA
Gus is a business development and operations executive with experience working with startup companies in sensors/robotics, machine learning, energy and mobility...
Raffaella Squilloni, MS, MBA
Raffaella is a Co-Founder at Arbothera. Founded by Harvard scientists in the George Church Lab, Arbothera is developing a vaccine platform that harnesses pathogen-sensing pathways...
Shahid Azim, MBA
Shahid is a serial entrepreneur, known for leading health start-ups from breakthrough ideas in the labs to building products that can having a meaningful impact on people’s lives...
Nat Harrison, MBA
Nat is an entrepreneur with experience creating new businesses in the energy and materials, robotics, and healthcare industries...
Chris Duke, MPH, MBA
Chris is an accomplished biotech executive with more than 20 years of life sciences experience, having held several leadership roles across both early- and late-stage clinical development...
Be ready to be surprised by what intrigues you and catches your curiosity. I find being open to step out of your comfort zone is going to be important in this kind of opportunity, because inherently you're working on problems that haven't been solved before.
Shahid Azim
OTD Entrepreneur-in-Residence, 2017-18