About the authors

Richard Bendis

Mr. Bendis has distinguished himself as a successful entrepreneur, corporate executive, venture capitalist, investment banker, innovation and technology based economic development leader, international speaker and consultant in the technology and healthcare industries. He currently serves as the founding President and CEO of Innovation America, a national 501c3 not for profit, private/public partnership focused on accelerating the growth of the entrepreneurial innovation economy in America.

Mr. Bendis has been appointed to selected national innovation related organizations and committees that include the White House U.S. Innovation Partnership Advisory Task Force and Co-Chair of the Small Business Innovation Research Committee; the National Governor’s Association, Science and Technology Council of the State’s Executive Committee, the State Federal Technology Task Force, the National Academies committee on “Competing in the 21st Century: Best Practices in State and Regional Innovation Initiatives”; National Academies National Research Review of an Assessment of the SBIR Program; National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory Board; U.S. Small Business Administration’s Angel Capital Electronic Network Board of Directors; American Academy for the Advancement of Science—Nominating Committee and the American Association Research Competitiveness Program Advisory Committee; Council on Competitiveness—Clusters of Innovation Committee.

Mr. Bendis has also served as a board member and representative to the National Association of State Venture Funds—Founding Board member and Executive Committee member; American Society of Mechanical Engineers—Strategic Innovations and Initiatives Committee; State Science and Technology Institute—Founding Board member and Executive Committee member; Eisenhower Fellowships Nominating Committee and the Ernst and Young Entrepreneurial Institute as a national/regional Judge.

Mr. Bendis continues to provide global consulting services to several international organizations including the International Science Parks and Innovation Expert Group, the United Nations, NATO, UK Trade and Industry, European Commission, French Embassy, the German Marshall Fund, and others global ventures.

Mr. Bendis also founded and served as the founding President and CEO of Innovation Philadelphia, a 3 state regional public/private partnership dedicated to growing the wealth and workforce of the Greater Philadelphia Region. Innovation Philadelphia managed a portfolio of programs in four distinct areas: Direct Equity Investment/Financing Assistance; Technology Commercialization; Global/Regional Economic and Workforce Development; and Market Research and Branding. Mr. Bendis is on the IP Board of Directors.

Previously, Mr. Bendis successfully leveraged a career in the private sector (with Quaker Oats, Polaroid, Texas Instruments, Marion Laboratories and Kimberly Services) and the venture capital industry (RAB Ventures) to lead the Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation. As its president and CEO, he developed KTEC into a globally recognized model for technology-based economic development. Mr. Bendis also successfully built an Inc. 500 healthcare software company, Continental Healthcare Systems, Inc., which he took public on NASDAQ and later sold to an international conglomerate. In addition, Mr. Bendis manages his own angel investment fund.

Ethan Byler

Ethan Byler is Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center in Doylestown, PA. The Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center is a business incubator focused on translational research and business development with specializations in diagnostics and therapeutics for infectious diseases, hepatitis, and cancer. The Keystone Innovation Zone is designed to harness the knowledge of partnering institutions of higher education, private industry, and government resources to nurture and assist early-stage technology companies. Ethan’s responsibilities with the Zone include business development, technology transfer, and working with the Regional Biotechnology Council.

Mr. Byler formerly worked for a consulting company focused on technology-based economic development in Washington, DC, New Economy Strategies LLC. His work there included management of regional innovation and growth projects, initiatives focusing on capital formation and entrepreneurship, rural economic development and the design of government led interventions in technology and innovation-based economic development. He has worked on strategies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Mexico, Alabama, Kentucky, Connecticut, Utah, North Carolina, Michigan and Colorado.

Prior to joining NES, Mr. Byler was an Analyst with the Federal Funding Programs at Innovation Philadelphia where he provided technical support on grant applications, business plans, and the presentation materials of early-stage companies attempting to secure financing through private investment or Small Business Innovation Research grant.

Mr. Byler holds a Masters Degree in Government Administration from the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of Charleston.

Please direct any comments or questions related to the contents of this paper to:

Richard A. Bendis
President & CEO
Innovation America
Phone: 215-496-8102
Cell: 215-593-3333
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
web:www.innovationamerica.us

Ethan J. Byler
Keystone Innovation Zone Coordinator
Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center
Phone: 215-589-6426
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.