Mike Giardello

Mike Giardello has an extensive work experience spanning multiple positions and companies. In 1997, they served as the Acting VP of Operations at Cyrano Sciences before moving on to found Materia in 1998. At Materia, they held various roles including Founder, President, CEO, CTO, and Executive Vice President. Mike continued to serve as a Founder and Senior Advisor at Materia until 2017.

In 2016, they became a Partner at Mount Wilson Ventures and an Entrepreneur In Residence at the Alfred E. Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering. Mike also joined SeqOnce Biosciences Inc. as a Board Member & Senior Advisor in 2018.

In 2017, Mike joined SAFCell, Inc. as a Board Member & Senior Advisor, and in 2021, they became a Board Member at Cinder Biological, Inc. Mike also served as a Senior Advisor at Kemgo Inc. starting from 2017.

In 2018, Mike co-founded Innovate Pasadena and held the positions of Co-Founder & Chairman until 2021, and Co-Founder & President from 2013 to 2018.

Mike is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Newlight Technologies, Inc. since February 2020.

Mike Giardello attended Grinnell College from 1984 to 1988, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Chemistry. Mike then pursued further education at Northwestern University from 1988 to 1993, obtaining a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Chemistry. Following this, Mike joined Caltech and served as a Postdoctoral Fellow specializing in Catalysis and Material Science from 1993 to 1995. Mike later returned to Caltech as a Visiting Associate from 1995 to 1998.