Venture Partners

Gaye Bok, Venture Partner

Gaye brings more than 15 years of operating experience in business development, new product development, and strategic planning to Excel's investment process.  Previously, Gaye headed up business and commercial development at Microbia, a bio-based chemical company.  She also served as Senior Director of Business Development of Synthetic Genomics where she was the first non-founder employee, and as Business Development Manager at Cabot Corporation.  Gaye received an M.B.A in Finance and International Management from MIT's Sloan School and a B.A. from Harvard College.

Don Crothers, Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Crothers is an outstanding scientist and successful entrepreneur who as has worked with Mr. Blume for over 20 years, actively assisting with investment decisions and filling key executive and advisory positions in portfolio companies. He served as Chief Scientist at GeneOhm from its inception until its successful exit, guiding its platform development and IP strategy. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and Scientific Consultant at U.S. Genomics, where he has been instrumental in solving technical challenges.  His advice was also critical in developing and strengthening the basic technology platforms in various portfolio companies including BioTrove, Exact Sciences, and Cytyc.

Dr. Crothers is Sterling Professor Emeritus and former Chairman of Chemistry at Yale University, and Professor Emeritus of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and of Engineering at Yale. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences in recognition of his seminal work on DNA-protein interactions. He has published more than 200 scientific papers, has 10 issued patents, and served on numerous advisory boards and committees. Dr. Crothers received his BS from Yale University, BA from Cambridge University and PhD from UCSD.