Steve Martin

Summary

Stephen M. Martin CEO Partner, HiTech Partners Phone: 770-596-8204 Email: smmartin@windstream.net Steve Martin founded CIBA VISION Optics in 1980 and CIBA Vision Ophthalmics in 1990. He and his team grew sales of the combined companies to over $1.2 Billion with more than 6,000 employees. CIBA Vision is a world leader in the field of soft contact lenses, lens-care products and ophthalmic pharmaceuticals. Steve Martin was President of CIBA Vision Corporation USA until 1998. Prior to his retirement from Ciba Vision in June 2001, Steve acted as a venture opportunity liaison on entrepreneurial life science projects for Swiss giant Novartis. While serving as President and CEO of QSpex Technologies, Inc. (April 2009 until he retired from operating responsibility again in January 2014), he raised over $60 million in venture capital. Steve has personally successfully negotiated more than 70 licensing and acquisition deals with values ranging from $1 million to $320 million. He has assisted several start-ups in raising equity capital. His worldwide business contacts include decision makers in organizations such as: Alcon, ALZA, Bausch & Lomb, Emerging Technology Partners, Emory University, Essex-Woodlands Health Ventures, the FDA, ForSight Labs, Johnson & Johnson, Kleiner-Perkins, Merck & Company, Sofinnova Ventures, Spindletop Capital, The Innovation Factory and Versant Ventures. He serves or has served as a director on the boards of numerous public and private companies. Steve is a graduate of Wake Forest University and attended the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He holds 6 issued U.S. Patents for his inventions and a number of European Patents. Steve was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps. He and his wife Judy now live in the North Georgia mountains. Specialties: Contract negotiation and deal making, Patent review and strategy, Board of Directors Public and Private Companies.