Daniel Sem, PhD, JD, MBA

(Full Professor)

I am an academic researcher and a serial tech entrepreneur with a background at the interface of business, law and technology. Currently, I serve as Executive Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Walsh College, with an academic affiliation as a Professor of Management and Marketing. I am also a Research Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Concordia University (executing an NIH grant supporting healthcare entrepreneurs). With interests in entrepreneurship and technology innovation, I have published >70 papers, and have 10 issued and multiple pending patent applications, multiple federal research grants (including NIH and NSF (I-Corps) grants), and I co-founded five biotechnology companies (Triad, AviMed, Retham, Estrigenix, Vivid) and a nonprofit that helps healthcare technology entrepreneurs form companies and secure seed funds (Bridge to Cures). I also recently funded and now lead CU Ventures, a subsidiary of Concordia’s foundation (now capitalized with $1 M), around which I formed an angel investor group (they donated $200,000 in the last 2 years and invested another $0.8 M). CU Ventures is in the process of becoming affiliated with University Venture Affiliates, a nonprofit that will exist under and support the Walsh College Foundation. I am active in the business community, serving on multiple boards. While my career began in the private sector, co-founding then raising venture capital ($42 M) for my San Diego-based biotech company, I later pursued an academic career in Milwaukee in Chemistry, transitioning later to business with a focus on helping faculty and student entrepreneurs build, fund and grow companies in Wisconsin and now also in Michigan.