David J. Whelan
Managing Director
David J. Whelan is a seasoned strategy, business development, and general management executive building businesses and inspiring entrepreneurs at the intersection of technology, health, and wellness. As a consultant, advisor, entrepreneur, and operating executive, Dave has devoted his career to building successful businesses, from strategic, operational, financial, and human capital standpoints.
Recent engagements include developing a multi-year strategic and financial plan for a leading synthetic biology organization and developing a commercialization strategy for a cancer diagnostic technology. He helped launch New York Genome Center, a unique not-for-profit scientific research institute, where he served as Senior Vice President, Business Development & Chief Strategy Officer and collaborated on the development of the business plan, fundraising of $115 million, and operational launch. His experience also includes roles as acting chief operating officer for a specialty chemicals distribution and laboratory services business, and product management and channel strategy for Apex Fitness Group, a division of 24 Hour Fitness. Earlier in his career, he spent over six years as a retained executive search consultant with Ethos Consulting Inc. As a consultant and confidante to his clients—primarily CEOs and venture capitalists—his mission was to help to build management teams that could build successful enterprises. Dave began his career with a biotechnology incubator in San Francisco.
Dave has worked in and on behalf of numerous industries throughout his career, including aerospace and defense, telecommunications, software and hardware, biotechnology and healthcare, manufacturing, consumer products and retail, entertainment, and not-for-profit organizations.
Currently, he serves as founding board member or advisor to STEMP, an innovator in digital health products designed to improve health, wellness, and quality of life; Qora, a health and wellness data analytics company; LuxxList, a digital style publication; Older & Wiser, a customized telehealth solution to enable the elderly to access psychiatric services remotely; and O2 MAX Fitness, a teen fitness and media company.
Dave holds an MBA with Honors from the UCLA Anderson School and a BS in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University, and he remains very involved in alumni activities with both schools. He also studied at London Business School and Carnegie Mellon University. He maintains a Top Secret Security Clearance.
He resides in Los Angeles with his wife Lauren, son Evan, daughter Gabrielle, and puggle Fergie. His interests include photography, travel, restaurants and food, technology, and rock ’n’ roll history.
