Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world’s needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel(TM), a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum-based plastics. Metabolix is also developing a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.
Metabolix biopolymers are made using renewable carbon based feedstocks, making them 100% biobased. These biopolymers are biodegradable, providing a sustainable alternative to a growing demand for traditional plastic.
Metabolix’s biopolymer resins have allowed for the development of a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags. Compostable bags and film help to reduce organics from municipal waste streams and landfills.
Metabolix is developing biopolymers as performance additives for PVC and PLA compounds.
Mirel biopolymer resins biodegrade properly in marine life, an important function for agricultural and horticultural applications. This also saves on the labor and disposal costs of conventional plastics.
Metabolix’s PHA technology is used as a platform for developing a number of renewable chemicals, from renewable feedstocks to drop in replacements for petroleum based products.
Metabolix has developed a proprietary and cost effective direct route for producing renewable GBL and has demonstrated that GBL can also be converted cost-effectively to BDO via a standard catalytic process.
Metabolixs process is price competitive and that developing and commercializing C3 renewable chemicals represents another attractive market for our technology.
Metabolix is making advancements in crop-based technologies, developing genetic engineering systems for different plant crops to increase PHB production in plant tissue.
Jim Barber has extensive experience in industrial biotechnology, having most recently served as President and CEO of Metabolix, Inc. Under his leadership, Metabolix developed the Mirel line of bioplastics and formed Telles, a joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). Dr. Barber also led Metabolix through a successful IPO in November 2006.
Prior to Metabolix, Dr, Barber served as Global Business Director for Albemarle Corporation, with global P&L responsibility for that $100+ million business.
He also served as Director of Business Development with Ethyl Corporation, with responsibility for acquisitions and managing Ethyl’s venture capital activities.
Dr. Barber received a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976 and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980.
He received the American Chemical Society’s Henry F. Whalen, Jr. award for Business Development in September of 2003.
Dr. Barber is a highly respected biotech entrepreneur who has grown several startups into successful companies. Barber serves on the Advancement Council of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron, and as a director of Graham Corporation and Agrivida. Barbers career includes serving as president and CEO of Metabolix and as president of Geltech Inc. He has also served as global business director of Albemarle Corporation, representative director of Nippon Aluminum Alkyls, and business development director of Ethyl Corporation.
Ian Cooper joined Intel Capital in 2004 and is based in the London office, where he works on investments across Western Europe.
Before joining Intel Capital, Ian spent four years in Paris as a Principal with investment bank Bryan Garnier and Co., providing corporate finance advisory services to European technology companies.
Prior to this, he worked for ten years in the software industry, including four years as CEO and founder of a data security start up. Ian is a Director of Tobii Technology AB and a board observer for Amplidata, Total Immersion and Metaboli.
Ian holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Computer Science and a B.Sc in Psychology from the University of Cape, as well as an MBA from Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) in Paris.
Dr. Anthony Sinskey, Sc.D. is professor of Microbiology and Health Sciences and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Professor Sinskey has participated in the founding and development of over 15 biotechnology companies over the course of two decades, including Metabolix and Genzyme, Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, and Tepha, a medical device company. One of his current areas of research focuses on understand how technological innovations in basic sciences and systems biology can facilitate pharmaceutical drug development in personalized medicine.
Mr. Lasersohn has thirty years of experience in health care venture capital investments.
Prior to joining The Vertical Group’s predecessor, F. Eberstadt in 1981 as a member of its venture capital division, Mr. Lasersohn was a corporate attorney with Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Mr. Lasersohn has served on the boards of over thirty medical companies and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Anova, Masimo Corporation, Oncomed, Photothera and Silk Road Medical.
He previously served on the boards of Bacchus Vascular, CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, Inc., E.P. Technologies, Integrated Vascular Systems, Kyphon Inc, Metabolix, Proteolix and TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals .
Mr. Lasersohn served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the National Venture Capital Association and is a past Chairman of the Medical Industry Group of the NVCA . He was the recipient of the NVCAs Outstanding Service Award in 2008. In 2011, Mr.