David Smith
Newton,MA
Summary
Innovative technology executive and entrepreneur with 15 years of experience in product development, engineering leadership, and entrepreneurship. Co-Founder, CTO, and former CEO of LiquiGlide, developing Liquid Impregnated Surface (LIS) technology for medical, pharmaceutical, and consumer applications. Inventor of LIS platform, with expertise in surface science, wetting, and coatings. Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and inventor on 78 granted patents including 21 in the U.S. Track record of turning scientific breakthroughs into commercial success, leading high-performance teams, and fostering innovation-driven cultures.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Technology Officer, Founder, and Board Member
LiquiGlide
01.2012 - Current
- Company Overview: Renamed Arnasi Group in 2023
- Founded the company based on groundbreaking research conducted as a graduate student at MIT
- Directed fundraising activities, leading the company to raise more than $85M from Private Equity, family funds, and VCs
- Defined and executed company strategy, aligning technological advancements with market opportunities
- Led the development and commercialization of Liquid Impregnated Surface technology
- Recruited and trained engineering team, expanded scientific theory, and drove key technical breakthroughs, advancing applications across medical, pharmaceutical, and consumer industries
- Expanded and managed a robust patent portfolio, resulting in 85 granted patents, including 25 in the United States
- Directed team to establish and scale manufacturing infrastructure, including a GMP-compliant Quality System and production process for Class I medical devices and OTC drugs
- Managed financial forecasting, budgeting, and cash-flow modeling
- Structured and negotiated strategic partnerships, including licensing deals and joint development agreements
- Renamed Arnasi Group in 2023
Graduate Researcher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Conducted advanced research in mechanical engineering, specializing in surface science, coatings, and fluid dynamics
- Invented Liquid Impregnated Surface technology, later licensed to LiquiGlide
- Published findings in leading scientific journals, contributing to the foundation of LiquiGlide's core technology
- Withdrew from PhD program to found LiquiGlide in 2012 amid viral media following MIT $100K Audience Choice Award
Education
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA01-2011
Minor - Entrepreneurship
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA01-2011
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL01-2009
Skills
- Technology Development
- Intellectual Property Strategy
- Fundraising
- Engineering Team Leadership
- Training and mentoring
- Change management
Awards and Honors
- Forbes 30 Under 30 – Manufacturing & Industry
- Time’s Invention of the Year for LiquiGlide technology
- Winner of Mass Challenge business plan competition
- MIT $100K Audience Choice Award
- NDSEG Graduate Research Fellowship
Publications
- J.D. Smith, R. Dhiman, S. Anand, E.R. Garduno, R.E. Cohen, G.H. McKinley, K.K. Varanasi. "Droplet Mobility on Lubricant-Impregnated Surfaces." Soft Matter, 2012.
- J.D. Smith, A.J. Meuler, S. Subramanian, R. Venkatesan, R.E. Cohen, G.H. McKinley, K.K. Varanasi. “Fundamental Studies of Clathrate Hydrate Adhesion.” ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, 2010.
- S. Anand, A.T. Paxson, R. Dhiman, J.D. Smith, K.K. Varanasi. “Enhanced Condensation on Lubricant-Impregnated Nanotextured Surfaces.” ACS Nano, 2012.
- A. J. Meuler, J. D. Smith, K. K. Varanasi, J. Mabry, G. H. McKinley, and R. E. Cohen. “Relationships between Water Wettability and Ice Adhesion.” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2010.
- K. K. Varanasi, T. Deng, J. D. Smith, M. Hsu, and N. Bhate. “Frost Formation and Ice Adhesion on Superhydrophobic Surfaces.” Applied Physics Letters, 2010.
- C. J. Love, J. D. Smith, Y. Cui, and K. K. Varanasi. “Size-Dependent Thermal Oxidation of Copper: Single-Step Synthesis of Hierarchical Nanostructures.” Nanoscale, 2011.
Patents
Inventor on 78 granted patents, including 21 U.S. patents:
- Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces, Methods of Making, and Devices Incorporating the Same. US8574704, Nov 5, 2013; US11933551, Mar 19, 2024.
- Self-Lubricating Surfaces for Food Packaging and Food Processing Equipment. US 8535779, Sept 17, 2013; US8940361, Jan 27, 2015; US 9371173, June 21, 2016; US1096803, April 6, 2021.
- Liquid-Encapsulated Rare-Earth Based Ceramic Surfaces, US9309162, Apr 12, 2016.
- Apparatus with a Liquid-Impregnated Surface to Facilitate Material Conveyance. US9625075, Apr 18, 2017.
- Articles and Methods for Reducing Hydrate Adhesion. US10294756, May 21, 2019.
- Articles and Methods for Forming Liquid Films on Surfaces, and Devices Incorporating the Same. US10870505, Dec 22, 2020; US11603222, Mar 14, 2023.
- Apparatus and Methods Employing Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces. US10882085, Jan 5, 2021; US11492500, Nov 8, 2022. US12103051, Oct 1, 2024.
- Self-lubricating Surfaces for Medical Devices and Personal Care Devices, US 11058803, July 13, 2021.
- Systems and Methods for Creating Durable Lubricious Surfaces via Interfacial Modification. US10421866, Sep 24, 2019; US10428222, Oct 1, 2019; US11046853, Jun 29, 2021; US11820914, Nov 21, 2023.
- Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces with Enhanced Durability. US2906827, Nov 9, 2021.
- Medical Devices and Implements with Liquid-Impregnated Surfaces. US11684705, Jun 27, 2023; US12005161, Jun 11, 2024.
Timeline
Chief Technology Officer, Founder, and Board Member
LiquiGlide
01.2012 - Current
Graduate Researcher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
01.2009 - 01.2012
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Minor - Entrepreneurship
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
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