Ray Matthews, Vice President of Sales & Marketing and Partner

Ray Matthews, a former educator, Rotary Foundation Scholar, author and entrepreneur, is a marketing, business development and financing specialist.

Ray founded the direct-sales company Balance Fashions in 1990 and turned it into a multi-million dollar company in just 24 months and, after expanding sales distribution internationally, he sold it successfully in 1992. Mr. Matthews then ventured into the web world as a financier and start-up specialist.

In 2000, Ray co-founded and led the financing of Qwest Emerging Biotech Fund (VCC) Ltd., a boutique life sciences fund that in 2004 merged into the Advanatge Life Science Fund I and, in 2006, won Canadian Venture Capital Association 'Deal of the Year' for its successful exit of Aspreva Pharmaceuticals (23.4X). In addition to leading the fund raising, Ray targeted and closed a strategic agreement between Qwest Emerging Biotech Fund (VCC) Ltd. and Burrill and Company, one of the largest life science merchant banks in the world. Ray is has co-championed media sales, product development, and product placement for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.