Kevin Kimberlin

At the birth of the mobile phenomenon in 1982, Kimberlin invested in Millicom, the only startup selected by the Federal Communications Commission to demonstrate the feasibility of cellular telephony.[1][2][3] As advisor to the CEO, he structured the first equity financing for Millicom, which was the impetus for the Racal–Millicom joint venture —subsequently renamed Vodafone Group plc.[4] By August 2000, Vodafone was the largest communications firm and the 7th most valuable public company, with a peak market cap of $404 billion.[5] Today Vodafone serves more than 640 million mobile phone users globally.[6]

Kimberlin co-founded Ciena Corporation with Optelecom and David R. Huber to commercialize the first dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) system,[7][8][9] powered by Ciena’s patented dual-stage optical amplifier.[10] As the common basis of all high-capacity fiber communications networks around the world,[11] WDM enabled the explosive growth of the Internet and serves as its foundation today.[12][13] By 2019, Ciena was the #1 ranked innovator and the market share leader in high capacity networking, supporting 1,500 customers comprising 85% of the world's largest communications providers.[14]

Prior to its public offering, Kimberlin was the sole general partner of Next Level Communications, a broadband access leader, 20% owned by Kimberlin LLC and 80% owned by General Instrument Corporation.[15] Kimberlin guided Next Level through its IPO, achieving a market capitalization of $17 billion before it was acquired by Motorola in 2002.[16]

In 1986, Kimberlin co-founded the Immune Response Corporation with Jonas Salk.[17] The Immune Response Corporation patented the basis of the first FDA approved cancer vaccine, and pioneered the field of immunotherapy.[18]

He then co-founded Myriad Genetics, the first human genome company, with Nobel Prize winner Dr. Walter Gilbert, Peter Meldrum, and Dr. Mark Skolnick, the scientist who, with several colleagues, devised the gene-mapping technique that catalyzed the Human Genome Project.[19] Myriad Genetics received international acclaim by discovering the breast cancer gene, BRCA1.[20]

Osiris Therapeutics, also co-founded by Kevin Kimberlin, patented and developed the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). As of June 2020, a search of MSC in ClinicalTrials.gov turned up 1,116 clinical trials registered to treat 928 different medical conditions. Using the MSC as a drug, Osiris received the world's first regulatory approval for a stem cell-based therapy and is recognized as a leader in regenerative medicine.[21]

Kimberlin helped launch Health Dialog based on the research of John Wennberg whose clinical studies precipitated[22][23] the Affordable Care Act.[24] Health Dialog provided $130 million in support of Wennberg’s efforts to put patients in charge of their medical decisions.[25] By lowering the cost and improving the quality of health care for 18 million people, Health Dialog grew into one of the fastest-growing private companies in America.[26] The firm was acquired by British United Provident Association for $775 million.[27]

Kimberlin supported Robert Langer in two of the three ventures he discusses in his biography. He was a founding shareholder in Langer's first company, Enzytech which later merged to form Alkermes,[28] and the third largest shareholder in his InVivo Therapeutics.[29]

Kimberlin's philanthropic endeavors in environmental science, education, and creativity include the Audubon Society, Harvard University and Yaddo, the artist community founded 100 years ago by Spencer Trask and his wife. Kimberlin serves as a lifetime honorary director of Yaddo.[30]

In 2014, Kimberlin was reported as one of a number of "prominent investors [who] have taken to Transcendental Meditation".[31] He received his Bachelor of Sciences degree from Indiana University and his master's degree from Harvard University.

• Spencer Trask & Co.
• BER Business Times - The New Face of Philanthropy