Heath Naquin

Advisor | Commercialization, Capital Strategy & Strategic Partnerships

Heath Naquin is an innovation executive, investor, and strategic advisor focused on translating emerging technologies into commercially viable ventures. His work connects venture creation, capital formation, and industry partnerships across medtech, artificial intelligence, and dual-use technologies.

Heath is the founder of Forged Catalyst Group and serves as Senior Vice President of Innovation & New Ventures at the University City Science Center. At the Science Center, he leads commercialization and capital initiatives, government partnerships, and expansion into new markets. He also led the creation of the organization’s flagship Capital Readiness Program.

Over his career, Heath has created and deployed more than $200 million in global venture funds focused on science and technology innovation. He has also served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on more than $250 million in funding and contracts across federal, state, and international programs.

His experience includes leadership and advisory work with the NIH RADx External Commercial Partnerships team, the U.S. Department of State’s Global Innovation in Science and Technology initiative, and commercialization programs supported by the National Science Foundation and European Investment Fund. He is an active angel investor and limited partner in early-stage investment funds.

As an advisor to Wave Strategy, Heath brings a practical, investor-informed perspective to commercialization planning, funding strategy, and partnership development—helping connect promising technologies with the capital, relationships, and execution required to reach the market.