Product Manager | Seed-Stage Venture Investor | Health and Biotechnology Leader
Howdy! I’m Max. I’m an entrepreneurial leader helping emerging companies become product-led organizations. I’ve worked around the globe to launch and grow products that positively impact people.
Here are some of the projects that I’ve worked on:
Compass Pathways
is an early-stage biotechnology company accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health using a psilocybin based treatment program. As Product Manager, I build patient facing applications to provide psychoeducation support and capture health related data from personal device sensors, voice, and usage behaviors. In collaboration with data scientists, we’re working to identify biomarkers with the goal of creating a precision approach to mental healthcare and improving outcomes.
Medic Mobile
is the creator of the Community Health Toolkit, an open source software that assists in delivering primary healthcare to people in underserved areas in Africa and Asia. As Product Manager, I established a new product management methodology with the team, managed product roadmaps, and communicated product improvements through a new documentation site.
Health Data Alliance
is a partnership between the venture capital arm of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC Enterprises), the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences, and Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science. I joined the inaugural team to establish a new investment program commercializing digital patient health solutions, develop investment theses, and deploy over $3 million to pre-seed stage projects.
MEDIvate
was a virtual medication assistant that reduced preventable medication errors during patient transitions between healthcare settings. I am a co-inventor of the technology and was the lead Product Manager. We established a partnership with one of the largest health institutions in the US, achieving electronic health record data interoperability, clinical workflow integration, and product validation with patients recently discharged from heart surgery.
Riverview Towers
is a non-profit providing affordable housing and supportive services to seniors. As a past Board Chair and Executive Committee member, I spearheaded a recapitalization campaign for the total rehab of outdated facilities to meet current day needs. The campaign secured $18 million of funding through public/private partnerships as well as a clear pathway to long-term financial stability. The Organization was subsequently acquired.
SenSevere
produced chemical sensors used in real-time environmental monitoring. As Product Manager, I evaluated and developed a new market for this seed-stage spinout from Carnegie Mellon University research. We completed trials for waterway contaminants monitoring near natural gas drilling sites for early identification of threats to public health.
Innovation Works
is a seed-stage investment firm advancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Pittsburgh, PA. I joined as an investment Associate responsible for deploying a $10 million fund to alternative energy startups. Coaching and collaborating with technology leaders from Carnegie Mellon University, I helped emerging entrepreneurs refine product roadmaps and develop data-driven decision frameworks for initial product validation.
MBS - Hill District
is a community-scale real estate development project transforming a historic neighborhood into quality, affordable living where people can thrive. As a Project Manager, I collaborated with public and private partners to execute projects that brought more equitable access to housing, work, healthcare and schools. The project included completion of financing and construction of a $125 million mixed-use development that boasts more than 325 units of sustainable rental and for-sale housing for families and seniors.
I’m a 15+ year product management and seed-stage venture investment veteran. Here’s a little more of my story:
Pittsburgh Mindset
The first decade of my professional life was devoted to Pittsburgh, my hometown. This period was not only incredible and challenging but also deeply fulfilling. Growing up in Pittsburgh shaped my mindset; the city’s rise and fall were inescapable. I became obsessed with understanding these dynamics and exploring what could be done to reverse the decline. This experience nurtured my appreciation for the influence of innovation and entrepreneurship on reinvention.
I actively participated in the city’s renaissance, witnessing its transformation from a has-been steel town to a vibrant model of urban revitalization. Now regarded as one of America’s most livable cities, Pittsburgh has become a small epicenter for prominent healthcare and emerging tech companies thriving amidst its quirky neighborhoods—what a remarkable comeback story!
Community Builder
My fascination with communities led me to redevelop real estate in inner-city Pittsburgh neighborhoods early in my career. I quickly learned that building and maintaining urban prosperity requires consistently delivering value to customers—the residents and businesses that form the fabric of neighborhoods.
Engaging with community members to understand their histories and barriers to success helped me cultivate empathy in defining “user needs.” I honed my talent for listening and creating win-win strategies that united diverse stakeholders to tackle deep-rooted challenges. After three years, my team successfully raised over $100 million, developing over 300 units of new housing and retail in the same neighborhood where my great-grandparents had originally immigrated when they arrived in the United States.
Technology Investment
Eager for a faster pace and broader impact, I shifted my focus to technology and entrepreneurship. I began as a junior seed-stage investor, immersing myself in local universities to discover groundbreaking research and build relationships with entrepreneurs who were committed to their visions.
Despite lacking a technical background at the time, my human-centered approach to problem-solving and understanding of public/private business partnerships proved invaluable. I supported seed-stage investments in more than a dozen companies within the environmental and health tech sectors alongside senior leadership. Post-investment, I collaborated with entrepreneurs at their earliest stages to analyze market forces and understand what motivates customers to use their products.
Product Leadership
As my knowledge of technology expanded, I transitioned into product management roles within emerging companies. I became an advocate for data-driven decision-making, consistently prioritizing user needs while executing a scientific approach: prioritize, test, iterate, and grow—a process that accelerated user feedback.
Building on this foundation, I expanded my horizons beyond Pittsburgh, embracing opportunities that allowed me to engage with diverse markets and cultures on a global scale. This shift not only broadened my perspective but also deepened my understanding of how innovation and entrepreneurship can drive change worldwide.
Today, I am a dynamic product manager with extensive experience in pre-Product-Market-Fit product management. My versatile skills empower teams to make high-impact product decisions while accelerating the growth of people and ideas around me. Most recently, I’ve concentrated on the biotech and health tech markets, achieving a proven track record of launching innovative products that drive business growth and improve patient outcomes.
Motivated Teammate
I thrive when collaborating with entrepreneurs—visionary builders who inspire teams to give their all toward creating scalable businesses that make a difference in the world. I’m motivated by dreamers and thinkers. If you share this quest for growth—whether it’s doing more, learning more, or seeing more - Let’s connect!
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