Ward Broom

Ward Broom is an experienced executive and has spent most of his career in the startup high tech industry.  After a successful exit in 2014 from the healthcare technology company he co-founded, (IPA)® (www.thinkipa.com), Ward now invests in and supports startups in operational and advisory roles.

As IPA co-founder Ward served as Executive VP and COO and was an integral part of taking the company from product concept to market leader and setting up in-house product development and manufacturing operations.  IPA provides an integrated hardware/software dispensing and retrieval system for hospital scrub suits and linens.  These products solve a significant pain point in hospital operations and are currently installed in over 1000 hospitals across the US and internationally.  After acquisition by Private Equity in 2008, IPA was sold to a Fortune 500 Company (Roper Technologies) in 2014 after which Mr. Broom stayed on as VP of Product Management and International Business Development and Strategic Advisor until his exit in March 2017.

Prior to IPA, Ward was co-owner and President of Design and Manufacturing Services (DMSI), an electro-mechanical product development and contract manufacturing firm.  DMSI’s customers included numerous hi-tech and medical device startup companies. 

Ward currently serves as CEO for the biotech startup Lena Biosciences™ (www.lenabio.com) which is commercializing a disruptive platform for optimizing new drug development and therapy selection by simulating the human body environment.  Prior to Lena Biosciences, he served as Interim CEO for the med device startup Cathaid® (www.cathaid.com) which provides a superior solution for the securement and maintenance of central line catheters.  While with Cathaid, Ward hit major operational and product release milestones and set the company up for commercialization success.  As an Angel investor, Ward also advises and mentors several other high-tech startups.

Ward holds Bachelors and Masters of Science Degrees in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA degree, all from the Georgia Institute of Technology.   He also holds multiple technology patents, is a Member of the Atlanta Technology Angels, and is actively involved as a Mentor at the Georgia Tech ATDC Incubator.