Deep Experience. Proven Results. Global Perspective.
FORGED CATALYST GROUP WAS BUILT TO UNITE CAPITAL STRATEGY, GOVERNMENT FUNDING EXPERTISE, AND Startup INNOVATION PROGRAM DESIGN INTO A SINGLE HIGH-IMPACT ADVISORY PLATFORM FOR ECOSYSTEMS, INVESTORS, AND COMPANIES.
Led by Heath Naquin — a strategist, investor, and advisor with 25+ years of experience across venture capital, government innovation policy, and global ecosystem development — Forged Catalyst Group has designed commercialization and funding strategies that have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in capital and created durable new innovation platforms around the world.
Our track record includes:
Advising top U.S. innovation agencies — NSF, NIH, ARPA-H, BARDA, NPS, JSOU, SBA, and the U.S. State Department — on commercialization, innovation ecosystem development and investment strategy.
Designing and delivering national and interenational-scale programs, including NSF I-Corps, NIH RADx, State Department GIST, innovation platforms as well as many more with groups including The World Bank, EIT Health, The European Investment Fund, The Kauffman Foundation and others.
Securing $250M+ in federal and international funding for innovation, health system transformation, and technology commercialization.
Serving as a fractional executive and strategic advisor to nonprofits, innovation hubs, and economic development groups (e.g., Science Center, VentureWell, MIT The Builder Platform, Living Cities, Kauffman Foundation, Jobs for the Future).
Architecting venture funds and capital platforms, including a $60M Health Innovation Fund (UT), a $56M SSBCI venture platform (Delaware), and multiple $10M–$25M health equity/science venture funds.
Building global commercialization initiatives in more than 60 Countries, such as the State Department’s GIST program (135+ countries) and EU-adopted venture creation models.
Shaping policy at the national level, including SBIR/STTR reform, SSBCI alignment, and ARPA-H legislative strategy and more.
Press & Recognition
