Our Team

E-merge is a committed team of leaders, seasoned investors and operators coming together to deliver the best outcomes for patients, entrepreneurs and LP’s

Investment Team

Brad Klos E Merge

Brad Klos

Managing Partner

Brad currently serves as the President and CEO of Cross Vascular, Boa Medical and Vector Vascular. He is also the Managing Partner at Evolve Medtech Partners, a medical device incubator and development company. Previously, he was the President and CEO of Traverse Vascular which was acquired by Teleflex and co-founder of SinglePass Transseptal with was acquired by Circa Scientific. Brad has 9 issued patents and other patents pending in various medical device specialties. BA in International Relations and an MBA in International Business from the University of San Diego.
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John Xitco Ret 1000px V1

John M. Xitco

Managing Partner

John has 25+ years of experience in real estate investment and management, petroleum distribution, food and beverage, alternative finance, and venture capital. John brings valuable perspective to the fund and provides strategic, outside the box ideas and philosophies. He is an emeritus Director of the Mary Bridge Children’s Foundation. BA from the University of San Diego.


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Randy Werneth Ret 1000px V1

Randy Werneth

Venture Partner

Randy has 30+ years of experience in both entrepreneurial and Fortune 500 corporations in the medical device industry and has founded several medical device companies including Acutus Medical, Arga Medtech, and Ablation Frontiers. Randy is also the President and CEO of Maxwell Biomedical and a Partner at Evolve Medtech. Randy has more than 70 issued U.S. patents in various medical technology field. BS in engineering from Arizona State and Masters in science from UCLA.

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Jim Pray Lighter

Jim Pray

Limited Partner and Advisor

Jim joined Penumbra at its inception in 2004. He held the rolls of President and President of International until his retirement in 2022. He was responsible for Global Sales and Marketing for the first 10 years , and focused on the international business in his final 8 years. He had previously held management positions in Sales and Marketing, Operations and R&D at Boston Scientific and Scimed Life Systems. Jim received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Minnesota.

Business Advisory Board

Gerard von Hoffman JD

Head of Medical 
Device Practice

Knobbe Martens LP

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Steve McQuillan

Regulatory Affairs & 
Quality Assurance

Medtronic, Acutus Medical

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Matt Schwartz JD

Head of Venture & 
Growth Lending

DLA Piper

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Jose Delgado

Operations &  Supply Chain

Acutus Medical, 
Ablation Frontiers

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Luke Xitco

Strategy & Business Development

X2P Capital, LLC

Jason Parks

President

Pulse Heart Institute
MultiCare Health System

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Nic Anderson

Reimbursement & Healthcare Economics

Intermountain Health, 
Boston Scientific

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Zach Berwick, Ph.D.

Grant Writing

Indiana University
Edwards Lifesciences

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Laura Minarsch

Clinical Affairs

MMC Medical
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Medical Advisory Board

Bill Lombardi MD

Interventional Cardiologist Director, Complex Coronary Therapies

UW Medical Center

Professor of Medicine

University of Washington

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Bill Nicholson MD

Interventional Cardiologist Director, Interventional Cardiology

Emory Healthcare

Assistant Professor

Emory University

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Wissam Jaber MD

Interventional Cardiologist Director, Cardiac Cath Lab

Emory Healthcare

Associate Professor

Emory University

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Brian Schuler MD

Electrophysiologist 
Director of Electrophysiology

WellSpan Health System

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Ali Ghiassi MD

Orthopedic Surgeon

Ghiassi Hand Surgery, LLC

Assistant Professor, 
Keck School of Medicine

University of 
Southern California

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