16 Oct Kauten to join ‘Investor Hall of Fame’ Nov. 5 at Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium in Madison
Ralph Kauten
Ralph Kauten, who left his mark on Wisconsin’s biotechnology economy as an investor and an entrepreneur, will be honored Nov. 5 during the invite-only annual “Investor Hall of Fame” dinner at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium.
Kauten was an early backer, founder and executive in a handful of Wisconsin biotech sciences, including Promega, PanVera, Mirus Bio, Quintessence Biosciences and Lucigen. He is known for creating companies that reach successful “exits,” meaning they were sold or acquired by larger firms to the benefit of early investors and backers. PanVera and Mirus were sold; Lucigen was acquired.
He is the recent co-founder of the Valency Fund, a venture capital vehicle aimed at closing growth-stage funding gaps for Wisconsin companies, especially those in biotech or high-tech sectors. Kauten sits on the boards and advisory boards of several private biotech companies, such as BellBrook Labs, and retains ownership or co-ownership stakes in other firms.
“Ralph brings commercial strategy, financial oversight and growth execution to science-led teams, bridging the gap between technical and academic innovation and market viability,” said Joe Kremer of the Tech Council’s Investor Network. “He has long been an active mentor and partner in Wisconsin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”