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Than Thein has an extensive background in Biology, Computer Science, Business, and Law. He holds a Masters of Business Administration and a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan. Mr. Thein is a licensed attorney and is admitted to the Ohio Bar.
Mr. Thein was formerly the Associate Director of the Technology Transfer Office and Biotechnology Executive in Residence at Ohio University. In his time at Ohio University, he both managed the university’s intellectual property portfolio and developed strategies to commercialize the technologies by either marketing them to outside entities or spinning out companies. Ohio University is well known for its biotech commercialization successes having recently monetized the revenue stream from the Pfizer drug Somavert for $52 million.
As an Executive in Residence in Ohio University’s Edison Biotechnology Institute, Mr. Thein provided consulting and business leadership to biotech companies and research institutes as well as participating in angel and seed-stage investment opportunities through TechGrowth Ohio, a $10 million economic development initiative. He helped evaluate the biotech deal flow and act as an advocate for biotech client companies.
Mr. Thein is the owner of Tidal Gardens (www.tidalgardens.com), a company that specializes in the propagation of corals for the reef aquarium hobby. Tidal Gardens received a big startup boost with Mr. Than winning the $30,000 grand prize in the 2005 COSE business plan competition as well as a $2,000 prize in the 2004 University of Akron business plan competition. The company is now one of the largest coral reef aquaculture companies in the country housing over 5,000 gallons of reef aquarium systems in which hundreds of varieties of corals are propagated for saltwater aquarists and public aquariums across the U.S. Than Thein is a passionate entrepreneur and commercialization expert.
