Smart Business Dealmakers recognized some top deals and dealmakers in the Pittsburgh region at the Smart Business Dealmakers Conference on March 5.
Here are the 2020 Dealmaker of the Year Award winners.
Michael Finke, president, M*Modal
M*Modal is a leading health care technology provider of cloud-based, conversational artificial intelligence-powered systems that help physicians efficiently capture and improve the patient narrative so they can spend more time with their patients and provide higher quality of care. To accelerate this mission, Finke sold M*Modal’s technology business to 3M this past year for a total enterprise value of $1 billion.
Greg Lignelli, COO, System One Holdings
Lignelli has led the company operations of System One Holdings, specializing in workforce solutions, for the past 12 years. He is responsible for System One’s strategic direction, day-to-day operations, corporate development and acquisitions — including the 2019 acquisition of Cohesion. Lignelli’s leadership has helped grow System One’s revenue to nearly $900 million, making it the 20th largest staffing firm in the U.S.
Bill Mueller, former CEO, Fi360 Inc.
Fi360 Inc. is a provider of investment fiduciary education and practice management services. Backed by a proven executive management track record and more than 20 years of experience driving growth in the technology industry, Mueller led the firm’s transformation into an enterprise-focused company and growth into data analytics while tripling the size of the firm in five years. Fi360 Inc. was acquired by Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. this past November for $120 million.
Dietrich Stephan, Ph.D., chairman and CEO, NeuBase Therapeutics
NeuBase Therapeutics is developing the next generation of gene silencing therapies to address genetic diseases including cancers. Stephan has been chairman of several academic departments, founded 14 biotechnology companies and, among other honors, has been profiled twice on the front page of the Wall Street Journal for his contributions to society. This past year, he notably led NeuBase Therapeutics in acquiring Ohr Pharmaceutical through a reverse merger and in securing $9 million of development capital.
Austin Webb, CEO and co-founder, Fifth Season
Fifth Season has developed an indoor farming system designed to streamline vertical growing operation. Webb co-founded the business while obtaining his MBA at Carnegie Mellon University, following a successful career in investment banking. This past year, he led Fifth Season in raising $32.23 million in venture funding to continue its expansive growth.
