Our People

Michelle Gothard 

Co-Founder

Michelle has a background in Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, with a focus on  developing sustainable and low-carbon products and processes through the application of new technologies. In particular consumer products, biomaterials, and biofuels.  She has also lead a business strategy group advising global clients on innovation processes, emerging technologies, and IP mapping


Mark Nicmanis 

Co-Founder

Mark has a background in Chemical Engineering, and an MBA (Cambridge, UK). He has worked for and with  global and small companies on appliance development, packaged product design, and clean-tech solutions. Mark is also an  entrepreneur and was instrumental in the technical development and commercial launch of a novel effervescent beverage 


               Raja Rajagopal               Strategic Advisor

Raja has over twenty-five years of senior international executive experience covering venture capital, healthcare, consumer goods and service industries.


His work experience covers executive worldwide divisional business development, licensing and leadership functions at Novartis in Switzerland and Unilever in the UK where he was head of Unilever's Strategic Licensing Division as well as setting up and managing the $65 Mio technology venture fund for Unilever in California. 


His professional background includes an UK Chartered Accountant qualification as well as audit and consulting at managerial level with Arthur Andersen in Barcelona (1978-82) and as a senior associate with Price Waterhouse in London (1975-8). His career began as a development engineer in the UK and Spain after gaining a Bachelor of Technology degree in chemical engineering from IIT, Kanr (1971), a leading technical institution in India and a Masters in Applied Mechanics and polymer engineering from Imperial College, London (1974). Later in 1984 Raja attained an MBA from Harvard Business School.