Monsanto Supports BioGenerator through Loaned Executive

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Monsanto Supports BioGenerator through Loaned Executive

Partnership will accelerate growth of start-up bioscience companies in St. Louis

Feb 26, 2013

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- James McCarter, M.D., Ph.D. is joining the BioGenerator as a Senior Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR).  Jim currently serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence with Monsanto Company. Monsanto is partnering with the BioGenerator, the non-profit venture development organization of BioSTL, to support the development of new startups in St. Louis by lending a portion of Jim's time to this effort.  With the BioGenerator, Jim will work with entrepreneurs to build successful companies, help them raise capital, and develop their technology for market.  He will also identify promising companies and technologies from St. Louis and around the world to join the BioGenerator portfolio and receive investment, access to lab space, and in-depth management support from BioGenerator staff and EIRs.

• Dr. McCarter was the founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer of Divergence, Inc., a world leader in the application of genomics and informatics to agriculture and infectious disease. The Company's discoveries led to three products now in development in agrochemistry, veterinary therapeutics, and diagnostics. Divergence raised over $20 million in private equity and venture capital and achieved a successful exit in 2011 when it was acquired by Monsanto Company which has advanced its seed treatment to phase II in its technology pipeline. Dr. McCarter is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence with Monsanto Growth Ventures, an initiative by the company to invest in start-ups that have potential to create transformative tools and technologies for farmers.  He is also an Adjunct Professor of Genetics at Washington University School of Medicine and an author of over 50 scientific publications. Dr. McCarter completed his medical and doctoral training at Washington University and graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University. He is the recipient of the Innovation Award from the Academy of Science of St. Louis and a Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.

"I greatly look forward to working with the BioGenerator to help new biotechnology ventures find their path to success.  The opportunities for bioentrepreneurs to have a positive impact on the world are greater than ever and span from human health to food and the sustainability of agriculture.  Monsanto and BioGenerator share a desire to attract and foster more entrepreneurial initiative in St. Louis and I am fortunate to contribute," said Dr. James McCarter, Senior Entrepreneur in Residence at the BioGenerator.

"Jim's broad experience – in both human health and agricultural technology – first in academia, then founding and successfully exiting a startup, and now in the corporate setting at Monsanto will add tremendous value to the support BioGenerator offers emerging companies," said Dr. Eric Gulve, President of the BioGenerator. "We sincerely thank Monsanto for their support of Jim's work with the BioGenerator.  It is a testament to St. Louis' collaborative entrepreneurial environment where entrepreneurs and their startups are linked closely with investors and corporate strategic partners, like Monsanto."

Since the BioGenerator's EIR program launched in the third quarter of 2011, EIRs have assisted more than 60 emerging bioscience companies in St. Louis, including 21 companies who have received active management or major technical/business support.  Jim will join a team of six current EIRs at the BioGenerator, expanding the capacity of the BioGenerator to support bioscience entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region.

The BioGenerator is continuing to recruit nationally for additional EIRs with entrepreneurial and industry experience.  BioGenerator is seeking additional EIRs with expertise in the areas of medical diagnostics and therapeutics, plant science and agricultural technology, bioenergy, and healthcare IT and services.  For more information, please visitwww.biogenerator.org.

About BioSTL

BioSTL builds regional capacity and fosters collaborative efforts to advance innovation, entrepreneurship, and new company creation that capitalize on St. Louis' world-class medical and plant biosciences and to promote economic growth and regional prosperity in St. Louis.  Please visit www.biostl.org for additional information.

About BioGenerator

The BioGenerator, the non-profit venture development organization of BioSTL, facilitates the formation of successful, sustainable bioscience companies in the St. Louis region. It provides start-up bioscience companies with pre-seed and seed investment funds, shared lab space with specialized equipment, and in-depth management support. Please visitwww.biogenerator.org for additional information.