David Gauthier PhD, MBA

David has 20 years of experiences with company start-up and development, technology commercialization, venture capital, government program management and entrepreneurial training.  David has held senior management positions with a technology start-up, an early stage investment firm, a government contribution program, and a not-for-profit organization.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Proprietor (01/2012-Present) Business Investment and Technology Commercialization Consulting Firm

Chief Executive Officer (08/2008-12/2011) Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan (Not-for-profit, established by Crown Investments Corporation and SaskCentral and partially funded by Enterprise Saskatchewan)

Developed and implemented strategic plans for the corporation; developed and implemented a re-focused business strategy following the closing of the Saskatchewan Entrepreneurial Fund; conceptualized and lead the development of an educational resource for entrepreneurial skills development; lead and managed performance of up to 6 staff in Saskatoon and Regina; oversaw and delivered advisory services to hundreds of entrepreneurs to improve entrepreneurial skills and preparation for investment

Regional Director (05/2005-08/2008) National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program

Managed performance of up to 12 staff in Saskatoon and Regina; managed contribution budget in excess of $2.5 M per year, managed diligence and approved projects for funding; feveloped and implemented improved decision-making process

Vice-President, Central Region (12/1999-12/2004) Foragen Technologies Management Inc. (Managed a $42 M venture capital fund for agricultural technologies)

President and CEO of GuardEn Technologies Inc., raising over $1 M in capital for GuardEn; negotiated a technology option agreement with NRC-IBS and funded research at NRC-IBS            related to an E. coli vaccine; project leader of Chromatin Inc.; coordinated diligence, project management, budgeting and financial processes for Foragen; prepared quarterly and annual project and financial reports for Limited Partners, Board, Executive Committee and auditors  

Director of Business Development (05/1997-12/1999) Performance Plants, Inc.     

Developed and implemented corporate strategy and business plans; prepared and delivered presentations to potential investors and corporate partners resulting in a $2.2 million strategic alliance with a major corporate partner and a $2.5 million venture financing; monitored intellectual property matters, managed financial matters including budgets, yearly financial audits, tax returns, and preparation of SR&ED tax credit forms

Postdoctoral Fellow (05/09, 1995) Department of Biology, Queen's University      

            Analyzed metabolic intermediates of transgenic tobacco plants

Research Assistant (1990-1995) Department of Biology, Queen's University and Department of Botany, University of British Columbia

Investigated carbon sources for fatty acid biosynthesis in developing oilseeds and interactions between phosphate uptake, respiration and photosynthesis in a phosphate-limited green alga