Golden Pine Ventures Names Qualyst Exec as Managing Director

Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Ian Mehr, a former executive with Qualyst, has joined Golden Pine Ventures as a managing director.

Golden Pine, which was launched in 2004, is a venture capital firm that looks to commercialize technologies developed by researchers in the region.

“Golden Pine Ventures is focused on discovering exciting, novel technologies that can form the basis of promising, new biotechnology and biomedical companies,” said Christopher Meldrum, managing director and founder of the firm. Meldrum was an executive at Paradigm Genetics before launching Golden Pine.

“Ian’s broad experience in business development, strategic alliances, fundraising, and licensing in the biotechnology industry will be instrumental in the support of current and future Golden Pine portfolio companies,” Meldrum added.

The firm provides a variety of services and funding as well as assistance in raising additional investment.

Companies backed by Golden Pine include Pique Therapeutics, Kylin Therapeutics, and Exigent Pharmaceuticals

Mehr was vice president of business development at Qualyst, a biotech firm focused on drug discovery and development. He also worked at Paradigm genetics and Laboratory Corporation of America in business development.

A graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Mehr earned an MBA at Cornell and his PhD at Northwestern University.

“The principals of Golden Pine Ventures have a history of past success in the biotechnology and medical device fields,” Mehr said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the Golden Pine team to identify new opportunities, and to ensure their growth and success as biotechnology and biomedical businesses.”