Pavel Abdulkin
Founding Partner
Life sciences executive and former Deloitte Director with 15+ years of experience leading growth, commercialization, and strategic transactions across biotech, pharma, and MedTech. Pavel combines strategic consulting expertise with hands-on leadership in venture building, commercialization, and business growth, including executive roles within SMALL Biotechnologies, Particle Works, and Dolomite Microfluidics.
His experience spans laboratory automation, AI-assisted drug discovery, mRNA therapeutics, cell and gene therapy, drug delivery, and advanced microfluidics technologies. Throughout his career, Pavel has helped companies achieve strong technology–market fit, scale commercial operations, and build strategic partnerships across global life science markets.
Pavel played a key role in scaling and commercializing businesses including Particle Works, Syrris, Glass Solutions, and IamFluidics, driving successful growth initiatives, strategic transactions, and exits. He led venture creation projects with global companies including HOYA and Rousselot, while leading and supporting transactions valued up to €55M and structuring licensing and partnership deals exceeding €200M.
Pavel works closely with founders, executives, and investors to help life science and MedTech companies build commercially grounded growth strategies and scalable pathways to market.
Richard Gray
Founding Partner
Richard Gray is an engineer, entrepreneur and technology leader with deep experience in product development, operational scale-up and the commercialization of advanced technologies within life science and high-technology industries.
Over the course of his career, Richard has founded and led multiple technology businesses (including TTP, Syrris and Dolomite Microfluidcs, taking products and platforms from early-stage development through commercialization and acquisition by major life science companies.
His expertise spans:
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Product and systems engineering
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Automation and process development
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Manufacturing scale-up
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Operational transformation
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Technical commercialization
Prior to SMALL Bio, Richard held leadership positions within Particle Works and Dolomite Microfluidics, where he played a key role in the development and commercialization of advanced microfluidic systems and workflows for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications.
At SMALL Bio, Richard leads technical strategy, operational execution and technology development initiatives, helping clients translate complex technologies into scalable commercial platforms.
Vladimir Matias
Partner
Vladimir Matias is a senior German and international investment banking professional with expertise spanning corporate financing, cross-border M&A, special situations and private equity investments.
Over the course of his career, he has advised on and implemented transactions with a combined value exceeding €13 billion across global markets.
His projects have received recognition and awards from leading international financial institutions, reflecting extensive experience in strategic transactions, growth financing and corporate development.
At SMALL Bio, Vladimir supports clients in areas including:
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Fundraising strategy
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Strategic partnerships
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Investment readiness
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Financial and commercial positioning
M&A preparation and transaction support
His expertise strengthens SMALL Bio’s ability to align commercialization and operational execution with long-term strategic and financial outcomes.
John Briant
Technical Lead
John Briant is a transformational technology leader and medical device development specialist with extensive experience building complex life science instrumentation and medical technologies from concept through commercialization.
His background spans product development, systems engineering, operational scale-up and technical leadership across multiple high-technology and life science businesses, including leadership at CTO level.
Over the course of his career, John has led multidisciplinary engineering and development teams responsible for the creation of advanced medical devices, life science instrumentation and commercially scalable technology platforms.
His expertise includes:
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Medical device development
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Life science instrumentation
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Product and systems engineering
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Technology commercialization
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Operational scale-up
At SMALL Bio, John leads product development initiatives, helping clients translate complex technologies into commercially viable and scalable products.
Darren Andrews
Technical Lead
Darren Andrews is a technology commercialization and spectroscopy specialist with more than 20 years of experience developing and launching analytical and process technologies for pharmaceutical and life science markets.
He co-founded Cobalt Light Systems, a deep-technology company focused on advanced Raman spectroscopy solutions for pharmaceutical analysis, airport security and materials identification. Following the company’s acquisition by Agilent Technologies, Darren led global spectroscopy strategy and technology investment initiatives within Agilent’s analytical instrumentation division.
Throughout his career, Darren has worked extensively at the intersection of scientific innovation, product commercialization and strategic business development, helping translate advanced analytical technologies into commercially successful platforms for regulated pharmaceutical environments.
He has also held leadership and advisory roles across multiple life science and deep-tech ventures, including businesses focused on lipid nanoparticle manufacturing, analytical instrumentation and pharmaceutical process technologies.
At SMALL Bio, Darren supports technology commercialization, strategic partnerships and product development initiatives, with particular expertise in:
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Analytical instrumentation
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Pharmaceutical process technologies
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Spectroscopy and process analytics
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Technology commercialization
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Strategic partnerships
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Venture scale-up and commercialization strategy
Ashok Lead
Technical Lead
Ashok Sinha (ex-Lightcast) is an experienced technology and engineering leader specializing in microfluidic systems, fluid handling technologies and the development of integrated life science instrumentation platforms.
Over the course of his career, he has worked extensively on the technical development and commercialization of complex fluidic systems for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic applications, with particular expertise in integrating precision-engineered components into scalable and commercially viable products.
His background spans:
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Microfluidic system development
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Fluid handling and process technologies
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Integration of complex hardware and fluidic components
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Product and systems engineering
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Technology commercialization
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Cross-functional technical leadership
Ashok has supported the development of advanced instrumentation and fluidic workflows across a range of life science applications, helping bridge the gap between early-stage technical innovation and robust commercial products.
At SMALL Bio, Ashok supports technical development initiatives focused on microfluidics, integrated systems engineering and product commercialization, helping clients translate complex fluidic technologies into scalable market-ready solutions.