Behrooz Abdi is an entrepreneur in the high-tech industry. In the last decade he has invested, or has served as an officer or board member, for a number of private and public companies, several of which have been acquired, creating billions of dollars of cumulative value for investors. Behrooz was most recently General Manager of the Micro Electro Mechanical Systems ("MEMS") Sensor Business Group of TDK Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of InvenSense, Inc., which was acquired by TDK for $1.3 billion in 2017. Prior, Behrooz was Chief Executive Officer and President of network processor company RMI Corporation and Executive Vice President of the company's acquirer, NetLogic Microsystems, Inc., a semiconductor company. Behrooz was previously Senior Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm CDMA Technologies at Qualcomm Incorporated. He worked at Motorola Inc. for 18 years, where his last role was Vice President and General Manager in charge of the mobile radio frequency and mixed-signal integrated circuits product line. Behrooz holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Montana State University - Bozeman and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.
Farzad Ghassemi has over 30 years of leadership experience with a proven track record encompassing pioneering roles in technology development and commercialization, operations, business development, and executive management. He has been instrumental in the formation and success of many startups, public companies, and high-profile entrepreneurial partnership with an in-depth knowledge and experience in key critical areas that determine and drive success in rapidly evolving business environments with focus on competitive landscape, technology, regulatory, business planning, capitalization, and execution.
Most recently, Farzad was the Founder and Executive Chairman of Global Technology Associates (GTA), a high-end technology consulting firm which was recently acquired by Kelly Services. Prior to founding GTA in 2006, he served as the President of Wireless Network Services at WFI, a global telecom outsourcing firm, where he was responsible for the company's WNS Business Unit with annual revenue of $290 MM.
Farzad received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from George Mason University and an MBA in Management from Strayer University. He has served on the Board of several Human Rights Organizations around the world.
Saeed Khorami serves as Operating Partner in multiple portfolio companies for the Bridgewest Group. He is responsible for driving the growth strategy in close collaboration with the management teams. Before re-joining Bridgewest Group, Saeed was the CEO of Skyriver Communications, a Bridgewest Group portfolio company, where he led the company's growth strategy until its successful exit in 2018, through its innovative and pioneering ventures in 5G millimeter wave (mmW) broadband communications. Previously, Saeed was a member of the investment team in Bridgewest Group focusing on emerging wireless and semiconductor technologies. Prior, he was a leading member of the broadband wireless group at Wireless Facilities, Inc., a global leader in telecommunications services. Saeed has over 20 years of experience operating technology companies and has served on the Boards of multiple companies in various technology sectors including wireless communications, semiconductor and software. He holds Bachelor's and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering.
Tommy Broudy is a passionate biotech executive with a 20+ year track record building and growing companies in life science tools, diagnostics and therapeutics. As Operating Partner, he works with portfolio companies to create value, set strategy, build teams, establish partnerships, achieve milestones, and generate successful outcomes for all stakeholders.
Tommy was part of the leadership team for Bridgewest Group portfolio companies Molecular Response and BioDuro-Sundia and has rejoined at the investment group level. Most recently, Tommy was CEO of January Therapeutics, which develops nanoparticle technology for drug delivery. Prior, he served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development & Marketing at BioDuro-Sundia, where he led the go to market strategy for the global CRO/CDMO. His team created a robust deal pipeline with multiple major partnerships in pharma and biotech. At Crown Bioscience, he led the US preclinical oncology operation up to the company's IPO. He cofounded and served as CSO of Molecular Response, a patient-derived tumor modeling company, up to the company's exit and strategic acquisition. At AltheaDx, he led the Business Development team to partner gene expression-based companion diagnostics for oncology therapeutics.
Tommy held postdoctoral appointments at Rockefeller University and Stanford University studying host/microbial genomics. He earned his PhD at Rockefeller in the Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology.
Ivan Mijatovic is a seasoned executive and investment professional with over 25 years of experience in public and corporate finance, IT, healthcare, venture capital (VC), and private equity (PE). He currently serves as Operating Partner at Bridgewest Group, where he leverages his international strategic and operational leadership expertise to drive growth and value creation for the portfolio companies. Throughout his career Ivan has held numerous senior executive roles, including VP at Deutsche Telekom Group in Bonn, Germany, CFO of Pliva Group in Zagreb, Croatia, and SVP Corporate Development at Barr Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey, USA. He has also served on various boards, including Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Hrvatski Telekom, Croatia's incumbent national telecom operator, and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Tenex Health. Currently Ivan serves as the Executive Chairman at Pontis Technology and as a Board Member at LumaCina, DxTerity Diagnostics and Vino.com. He received his B.Sc. in Business & Finance from the University of Florida in 1995 and completed the Program for Management Development (PMD) at HBS in 2000.
John Van Der Wielen serves on the Board of Directors of Bridgewest Perth Pharma, a global pharmaceutical holding company, where he plays a key role in the company's Australian expansion efforts. He brings global expertise and strategic leadership from his international roles across diverse industries, particularly within the healthcare sector, making him an asset to the company’s strategic direction.
In addition to his role at Bridgewest, he serves as Chair for Orthocell Ltd. and Crown Resorts Perth and has held prominent positions such as Chair of the Future Health Innovation and Research Fund WA, Director at Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA), and CEO of HBF, one of Australia's largest health insurance funds. He is passionate about expanding Australia's life sciences sector, creating jobs, and positioning the country as a global leader in medical product exports.