Bio
Mike Fahnert is a senior business development and strategic partnerships executive with more than two decades of experience commercializing technology and building high-impact innovation ecosystems. He serves as Business Development Officer for Industry Partnerships at the UNLV Office of Economic Development, where he connects industry, startups, investors, and federal partners with university research, talent, and infrastructure to accelerate applied innovation and regional economic growth. His work spans industry-sponsored research, technology commercialization, intellectual property development, and workforce pipelines, with increasing focus on health, biotech-adjacent technologies, AI, and data-driven innovation.
Prior to UNLV, Mike held senior leadership roles at venture-backed and public technology companies including Apttus, Scality, PernixData, Fusion-io (SanDisk), and Symantec, leading global alliances, go-to-market strategy, and partner ecosystems. He has also served as CEO or interim executive for multiple patented technology startups, raising capital, negotiating licensing and acquisition agreements, and delivering successful exits. Through his involvement with Biotech Vegas Bio, Mike is focused on strengthening Southern Nevada’s biotech and life sciences ecosystem by helping founders and researchers move innovations from lab to market through smart partnerships, capital efficiency, and scalable commercialization pathways.