Dinesh Patel

Dr. Patel co-founded vSpring Capital (now Signal Peak Ventures) in 2000 and has been a founding managing director since its formation. Prior to Signal Peak Ventures, Dr. Patel was an active angel investor in over 20 biotech and technology companies. From 1985 – 1999 Dr. Patel served as Co-Founder, Chairman of The Board of Directors and President & CEO of TheraTech, Inc., a biotechnology company which he took public and eventually sold to Watson Pharmaceuticals. From 1999 to 2004 he was the Founder, Chairman, President & CEO of Ashni Naturaceuticals, Inc., a company that specializes in the research, development and marketing of clinically tested and patent-protected naturaceutical products. In 1999, Dr. Patel co-founded and was the Chairman of Salus Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the research and development of nucleic acid-based therapeutics, including antisense and gene therapy drugs. He currently holds 15 U.S. Patents and Foreign Counterparts. Dr. Patel serves on several non-profit boards, and has won numerous awards including; 2006 Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame Inductee, 2006 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, US Small Business Administration’s Business Achiever Award, Scientific and Technology Award (State of Utah), Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Mountain West Venture Group) and Scientific and Technology Development Pioneer of Progress Award, to name a few. He is also a charter member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE). Dr. Patel served as co-chair of Governor Huntsman’s transition. He is the Chairman of the USTAR Governing Authority board. Born and raised in Zambia, Africa, Dr. Patel received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at Gujarat University located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, his master’s degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and his Ph.D. in Physical Pharmacy from the University of Michigan. Dr. Patel led the firm’s investments in American Academy, Athena Feminine Technologies, Axial Biotech, Coherex Medical, Exagen Diagnostics, Mirabilis Medica, Numira Biosciences, Lineagen, Q Therapeutics, ZARS Pharma and Salus Therapeutics which was acquired by Genta (NASDAQ: GNTA) for $30 million.