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Kenneth A. Epstein

kenneth epstein

Kenneth A. Epstein
Partner
Silicon Valley

Tel: 650-533-6050

Ken Epstein provides advice to entrepreneurs, business owners of private and family-owned companies, as well as to global corporations, private equity, and other financial groups on matters related to sell and buy-side mergers and acquisitions, corporate development and partnerships, and targeted equity capital raises. Ken uses his many years of U.S. and global experience in international investment banking as well as venture management (including P&L responsibility for both major business units and startups) and background in advanced materials, renewables, healthcare, and industrial markets to help his clients.

Ken focuses his M&A and targeted capital financing activities on the Materials (resins, additives, specialty chemicals, ceramics, carbon fibers, composites, nanotechnology), Materials Manufacturing into Parts (additive manufacturing, extrusion, injection molding), Life Sciences (medical devices/diagnostics/health-IT services), Renewables (water, energy storage, fuel cells, solar, wind), and Industrial/Aerospace/Transportation markets.

In addition, having spent many years working on international projects, Ken has developed an international network to help NewCap’s clients explore global options. In the past 10 years, Ken has helped companies find partners in Japan, Southeast Asia, China, Europe, Brazil, and Canada and he is currently initiating activities in Australia and Korea.

Prior to joining NewCap, Ken founded Epstein & Associates, a Northern California based consulting firm specializing in strategy development to help both small companies (<$50 million) and divisions of large companies as well as identify and help companies form global partnerships and successful licensing arrangements.

Ken started his global, multi-functional career with the Dow Chemical Company. After several years in R&D and Sales, he spent most of his Dow career as a corporate venture manager in the material/biomaterials/nanotechnology, energy (fuel cells, solar, lignite), water, and construction industries. He also managed businesses in electronics packaging, precision tools, and construction, and negotiated a variety of joint ventures and strategic alliances in North America, Europe, and Asia. During several stints overseas, Ken led the startup of electronics packaging & construction materials businesses in Singapore/Malaysia and Brazil/Argentina.

Ken holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA in International Finance from the University of Michigan.

Representative Transactions and Advisory Projects

  • Funding of U.S. early-stage Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient company (API)
  • Funding ($25 million) of OPM (Additive Manufacturing) by Hexcel (US)
  • Sale and Funding for several U.S. water treatment solution companies
  • Funding of Scinor Water (Beijing China) by Kleiner Perkins (China & US)
  • Sale of Burton Urethanes to BASF (Germany)
  • Sale of Shanghai Genomics (China) to GNI, Ltd. (Japan)
  • Acquisition by GNI Pharma (Japan) of % of Beijing Continent Pharmaceutical (China)
  • Joint Venture for NatureWorks LLC (bioplastics) between Teijin Japan (client) and Cargill

Speaking and Judging Engagements

  • Cleantech Open Judge-2023 and 2022
  • Japan-US-Innovation Awards Judge-2023-2022-2021-2020-2019
  • East Bay Economic Development Alliance International Committee Annual Manufacturing Awards Judge-2023-2022-2021-2020-2019-2018
  • Commercial Reviewer for U.S. Dept of Energy Grants & East Bay-SF Sustainability/Manufacturing Company of Year Awards-2022 and 2019