Name Jonathan Wolfson | Role Entrepreneur | |
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Jonathan S. Wolfson is an American entrepreneur. He is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TerraVia, a renewable oil and bioproducts company that produces, sustainable, pure, high-performance tailored algal oils using fermentation for multiple industries. In 2013, Wolfson was named by Forbes as one of the top twelve "Disruptors in Business."
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Education
Jonathan S. Wolfson has masters degrees in law and business from NYU.
Business career
Wolfson has held a variety of positions in finance, business, and law. Jonathan served as Vice President of Finance and Business Development at 7thOnline, as well as co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of InvestorTree. In 2003, Jonathan moved from New York to Palo Alto, California to found the renewable oil company, TerraVia (formerly Solazyme), with college friend Harrison Dillon. Jonathan first founded TerraVia with the goal of producing oil from microalgae for advanced biofuels, but along the way discovered that the company’s technology could produce tailored oils for chemicals, food and personal care applications as well. To date, TerraVia has commercial sales agreements with Unilever, Mitsui, Goulston, and more.
Other interests
Wolfson has also served as adjunct assistant professor of economics at Hunter College of the City University of New York. Wolfson is an active participant in many advisory groups, including sitting on the board of the Center for American Progress (CAP) Clean Tech Council. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and is on the governing board of BIO's Industrial and Environmental Section. Additionally, Wolfson sits on the supervisory board of Avantium, a renewable chemicals company, and on the Executive Council for the Advanced Biofuels Association (ABFA).
Recognition
In September 2009, Wolfson accepted the "Green Leap" award from the Clinton Global Initiative for his commitment to commercializing Solazyme's breakthrough technology for renewable oil production for fuel and for food.
In 2013, Wolfson was named by Forbes as one of the top twelve "Disruptors in Business".
In 2015, Wolfson received the George Washington Carter Award for innovation in industrial biotechnology from the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).