2006 Event Chairperson
Seán D.S. Sebastian
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Biographical Profile
Seán Sebastian is the founding partner of Birchmere Ventures, a Pittsburgh-based $160 million fund family focused on early stage technology and life sciences companies. Mr. Sebastian is actively involved in the development and growth of numerous area businesses, serving as past or present director/observer of CyOptics, FreeMarkets (sold to Ariba), Precision Therapeutics, Eximias Pharmaceuticals, Lightningcast, Interscope Technologies, MediaSite (sold to Sonic Foundry), NeoLinear (sold to Cadence Design Systems), Clark Screw Machine Products, ParaData (sold to Paradigm4), and Safeguard Interactive (sold to Storage Technologies).
Mr. Sebastian has over 20 years experience in technology commercialization, management consulting, systems integration, and financial services. Before founding Birchmere Ventures, Mr. Sebastian provided capital markets and commercial banking services to numerous industrial businesses in the Corporate Finance Group at PNC Bank (Pittsburgh PA). He previously provided management consulting services to major banking and insurance clients at International Systems Services (Stamford CT). At General Electric Information Services (Rockville MD), Mr. Sebastian directed artificial intelligence commercialization activities. He was previously an applied artificial intelligence systems consultant for various public and private sector clients of American Management Systems (Arlington VA). He also served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force.
Mr. Sebastian holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester MA) and an M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy NY). His civic activities include:
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1. Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association – former president |
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2. Pittsburgh Technology Council – executive committee member, board development chair |
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3. Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative – advisory board member |
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4. Early Stage East Venture Fair – co-chairman, selection committee member, regional ambassador |
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5. Capital Connection Venture Fair – selection committee member |
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6. Three Rivers Venture Fair – marketing committee member |
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7. Entrepreneurs for Pittsburgh – founding member |
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8. Pittsburgh Regional Marketing Coalition – advisory board member |
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9. New Idea Factory – Financial Capital committee chairman |
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10. Carnegie Museum of Natural History – executive committee member, endowment committee chair |
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11. Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh – trustee, trusteeship committee member |
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12. WYEP-FM – president, finance committee member, capital campaign chair |
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13. Sewickley Public Library – former director, endowment committee chair |
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14. Pittsburgh Public Theatre – capital campaign co-chair |
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15. Junior Achievement of Metropolitan Washington – former director |
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16. American Association for Artificial Intelligence – life member |
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17. Mensa – life member |
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