David Perry was the CEO and Director of Indigo Agriculture (earlier known as Symbiota), an agricultural technology company headquartered in Boston, United States.David P. Perry on BloombergBloombergThis Startup Wants to Use Bacteria to Revolutionize How Our Food Is ProducedFortune Retrieved 18 February 2016 He is a serial entrepreneur in the life sciences industry. He has co-founded Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Chemdex, NexPrise, Virogen and FareWell.
In September 2020, he was replaced by Ron Hovsepian, Indigo’s acting chief operating officer. Perry is also leaving the company’s board.Rosen, Andy (September 2, 2020) CEO leaves high-flying Boston startup Indigo Ag Boston Globe
Early life and education
Perry was raised on his family's farm in rural Arkansas. He holds a BS from the University of Tulsa and an MBA from Harvard Business School.David Perry at HarvardHarvard Business School He also attended the United States Air Force Academy. He began his career at Exxon, where he managed the operations and maintenance of an oil refinery.
Career
In 1995, while at Harvard Business School, David Perry founded Virogen, a biotechnology company focused on diagnostics.David Perry – Ventro CorporationThe Wall Street Transcript Retrieved 26 June 2000
While at Virogen, he felt that scientists spent a lot of time in procuring life sciences products through conventional catalog ordering. So in 1997, he founded Chemdex, headquartered in California. It is a B2B marketplace focusing on the life-sciences industry and sells laboratory chemicals and other scientific equipments online.Good ChemistryForbes Retrieved 21 February 2000Chemdex shines on market debutCNet Retrieved 2 January 2002A virtual chemical bazaarForbes Retrieved 6 January 1999 In the same year, he also created the parent company of Chemdex, called Ventro Corporation which was later sold to Nexprise. He served as its CEO and President until November 2001.David PerryCNBC Retrieved 16 August 2018
In 2002, Perry co-founded Anacor Pharmaceuticals and served as its CEO for twelve years. The biopharmaceutical company is focused on developing novel small-molecule therapeutics to treat infectious and inflammatory diseases. In 2016, the company was acquired by Pfizer for $5.4 billion.Pfizer to buy Anacor in $5.2 billion deal for access to eczema gelReuters Retrieved 16 May 2016
In 2015, Perry co-founded Better Therapeutics (also known as FareWell), a digital therapeutics company focused on preventing and reversing chronic disease through lifestyle changes. He is also on the board of directors of the human microbiome company, Evelo Biosciences.
In January 2015, Perry began his now former role as President, Director and CEO of Indigo Agriculture.
Awards and recognitions
EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2000 – Northern California for Ventro CorporationCompany name - Ventro CorporationErnst & YoungDavid PerryWorld Economic Forum 2017 Pioneering Leader Award by Flagship PioneeringFlagship Pioneering Names David Perry, CEO of Indigo Agriculture, as Recipient of the 2017 Pioneering Leader Award Flagship Pioneering
See also Indigo Agriculture Geoffrey von Maltzahn
References