Dr. William Silverman is an ion channels biophysicist by training, with over a decade of experience supporting startup companies. His dissertation focused on the molecular mechanisms of activation in voltage-gated potassium channels involved in cardiac repolarization. As a post-doc, he studied cyclic nucleotide-gated channels in synthetic liposomes and planer lipid bilayers and subsequently, the role of the Pannexin 1 channel in activating the inflammasome complex in neurons and astrocytes after traumatic brain injury. After earning his MBA, he began a second career supporting entrepreneurs and advising startup companies at The Launch Pad at the University of Miami. While there, he advised on the launch of nearly 300 companies, and trained staff at 17 universities across the United States to open their own entrepreneurship centers, known as the Blackstone Launch Pad. In 2018, Will joined U Innovation at the UM Miller School of Medicine as the Executive Director, Coulter Program and New Ventures, where he works with promising biomedical technologies and medical innovators and advising medical school faculty on translational research projects. In addition, Will is the co-founder of Accredify, Inc., an angel capital-supported fintech company serving online capital markets. Past volunteer work includes serving on the Educational Advisory Board of Refresh Miami, the Southeast Chapter Leadership Committee of BioFlorida, and the Advisory Board of the Entrepreneurship Program at the Miami Herbert Business School. He holds a B.S. from UC San Diego, a Ph.D. from UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, and an M.B.A. from Miami Herbert Business School.