EMulate Therapeutics meet our team
Chris E. Rivera
President, CEO & Chairman
Chris brings more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology industry. Chris was the Founder and CEO of Hyperion Therapeutics, which was acquired by Horizon Pharma in 2015, the Senior Vice President and head of Commercial Operations at both Tercica, where he led the cross-licensing transaction between Tercica and Ipsen, and Genzyme Therapeutics, where he built and ran Genzyme’s US renal Commercial Operations, he also helped launch Genzyme’s renal division globally. Prior to Genzyme, he helped build Cephalon and Centocor’s initial commercial infrastructures.
From 2009 – 2015, Chris was the President & CEO of the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association (WBBA), where he was responsible for building the biotechnology industry in Washington state. While at the WBBA, he oversaw one of Washington’s largest and fastest growing economic industries, including mentoring more than 400 life science start-up companies, and co-founding WINGS – Washington’s Medical Technology angel network.
He has also been recognized as a state and national leader through his appointments as co-Chair for the Governor’s life science and global health advisory committee, Governor’s Higher Education Task Force, the Washington Global Health Funding Commission, and Chairman, for the national Council of State Bioscience Associations.
Chris holds a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; a bachelor degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University; and studied marketing and management at the Albers Graduate School of Business and Economics at Seattle University.
Xavier A. Figueroa, PhD
Xavier A. Figueroa, PhD
Xavier is the principal scientist for EMulate Therapeutics overseeing pre-clinical research and the application of EMulate Therapeutics technology in multiple disease areas. He has more than 20 years of experience in basic and neurological clinical research, including Alzheimer’s research, neuron biology, cancer research, bioengineering and biophysics.
He has advised emerging biotechnology companies, most notably Cytokinetics and ENG3. Xavier has also served on non-profit Scientific Advisory Boards for such organizations as the Brain Health and Healing Foundation and has published broadly in multiple areas of science and medicine.
Xavier received his doctoral degree in Neurobiology & Behavior from the University of Washington. His doctoral training was followed by two post-doctoral fellowships within the University of Washington’s Department of Bioengineering. He is currently an affiliate assistant professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington.
Bennett M. Mike Butters
Founder and Principal Inventor
Bennett M. (Mike) Butters has served as a Director of the Company since its inception in February 2002. He led the early concept and design efforts for the development of the Company’s platform technology, including production of the system for recording and optimizing the Company’s molecular signals known as our Molecular Interrogation and Data System (MIDS). Mike brings particular technological expertise to the Board’s analysis and discussions. He also continues to assist the Company in its operations, having pioneered new concepts in signal acquisition, post signal processing, and signal transduction. His career in health care in both the private and public sectors, together with his background in electronics and radio frequency design and engineering, has provided a valuable multidisciplinary framework for enabling and executing innovation within the Company.
Steven E. Pope
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary
Steven Pope, has been the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of EMulate since September 2010. He is responsible for overseeing the legal affairs of the Company, including contracts, securities, governance, intellectual property, and employment matters. Steven has over 30 years of experience advising early and late-stage companies regarding these matters. Prior to joining EMulate Therapeutics, Steven was a Partner at Perkins Coie LLP, where he spent over 20 years in private practice.
Steven received his J.D. cum laude from Seattle University School of Law where he was a member of the Law Review, his M.A. from the University of Oxford, and his B.A. summa cum laude from Gonzaga University.
Kyle J. Kingma
Senior Vice President - Finance
General Manager - Subsidiaries
Kyle Kingma has been the top finance executive at EMulate since 2010. He brings over 15 years of experience in the finance sector with over 10 years as the senior finance professional at EMulate Therapeutics. Kyle is accomplished in leading finance and operational teams to help guide a company from startup stage through IPO readiness. Kyle has designed, implemented and maintained systems that integrate company goals and objectives into finance, information technology, operations and business development. Kyle oversaw financial and partnering operations of EMulate’s first spin-out company, Hapbee Technologies (HAPB:TSXV) and was pivotal to the achievement of Hapbee’s public listing. In his time at EMulate Therapeutics and working with Hapbee Technologies, Inc., he has managed and directed finances for over $80M in funds raised as well as over $5M in non-dilutive financing.
As the General Manager of EMulate Subsidiaries, Kyle coordinates outreach to strategic and investment partners in each of EMulate’s target sectors, with an initial focus on Cellsana Therapeutics (oncology), Indolor Therapeutics (pain management) and Mensana Therapeutics (mental health).
Kyle has spearheaded outreach to hundreds of companies, funds and advocacy groups, which has led to EMulate’s first federal grant submission, as well as multiple conversations with potential strategic and funding partners.
Kyle began his professional career in the audit practice at KPMG, where he gained wide experience with an array of clients, from startups to multinational public companies.