John Rice, Ph.D.

John Rice, Ph.D., is a Partner at CincyTech. Having joined the firm in 2014, he leads CincyTech’s life science investment activities starting from sourcing and diligence through investment monitoring and governance.  He is actively involved in mentoring other investment team members to share his learnings from years of experience.

“I am motivated and inspired by the opportunity to bring breakthrough science, treatments, and technology to patients. CincyTech has been a great place to do just that.” 

Prior to CincyTech, John started his career as a scientist and later moved into the world of venture capital where he was a Managing Director of Senmed Medical Ventures from 1989 through 2003 then co-founded and led Triathlon Medical Ventures from 2003 - 2014. Previously, John spent 13 years with Battelle Memorial Institute serving in various research, research management, and business development capacities. 

He has led or co-led more than 50 venture investments including founding five companies and joined the founding round of numerous others.

John is a member of the Board of Enable Injections, Airway Therapeutics, Armatus Bio, Genetesis, and Kurome Therapeutics. He has served previously as Chairman of Myonexus and Standard Bariatrics (both companies that were acquired from the CincyTech portfolio) and on the boards of Meridian Biosciences (VIVO), Aerpio (ARPO), Akebia (AKBA) (Founder and Chairman), Kereos, Syntherix (CEO), CS-Keys, and as an observer at Endocyte (ECYT) and Colucid Pharmaceuticals (CLCD).

John is Chairman of the Investment Advisory Board of the Harrington Discovery Institute. He serves on the advisory boards of the Innovation Fund at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. He is a past member of the board and past chair of BioOhio, BioStart, Neurotech Innovation Translator at OSU, the Industry Advisory Board of the Case - Coulter Partnership at Case Western Reserve and the Board of the Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center at the Cleveland Clinic . He has authored numerous scientific publications and holds patents in the fields of virology and immunology. He earned his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Virology from The Ohio State University.

When he’s not immersed in the contact sport of venture capital, John is an avid cyclist who candidly speaks about how he’s in a persistent race to keep up or catch up with the younger cyclists.

“There’s always a new thing - a new technology, a new economic cycle, a new challenge.  That’s why I’m still here."