Synergy has been actively involved in medical technology and venture capital since 1996.  We have participated in over $1 billion in equity and other financial transactions for private U.S. medical technology companies; through equity investment from our Synergy Ventures funds, and through establishment of strategic alliances, investments, and acquisitions involving US medical device companies and leading Japan medical technology corporations via Synergy Partners International.  

Synergy Ventures seeks early stage investment opportunities in US medical device startups, with typical funding levels of $250K to $1M in our initial investment. 

Our affiliated company Synergy Partners International is a consulting company developing investment, distribution and strategic partnering relationships between U.S. medical technology companies and Japan corporate and financial clients.  

Managing Directors

Allan Johnston, Ph.D.    Dr. Johnston is cofounder and managing director of the Synergy Ventures funds and Synergy Partners International. From 1992 to 1996, Dr. Johnston was in charge of late stage private equity investments in medical technology companies at Berkeley International Capital Corporation in San Francisco.  

From 1987 to 1992, Dr. Johnston was Program Manager at the Center for Medical Technology at SRI International, an international R&D institution in Menlo Park, California.  At SRI, he directed research projects, product development, and technical and business consulting activities for research organizations and medical technology companies worldwide.  Dr. Johnston has a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Guelph, Ontario and a degree in Chemistry from Dalhousie University,  Nova Scotia.  He serves on the board of several private companies.

Robert Okun, M.I.M.    Mr. Okun is cofounder and managing director of the Synergy Ventures funds and Synergy Partners International.  From 1987 to 1996 Mr. Okun was Senior Vice President at Berkeley International Capital Corporation, in charge of syndication, client relations, and fund raising activities in Japan and the Pacific Rim, as well as developing strategic equity and distribution arrangements between portfolio companies and corporations in Asia. 

Mr. Okun served as a Director of Berkeley/NED Development Capital Limited, a medical technology fund. Mr. Okun was also involved in arranging equity investments in high technology companies in the medical, semiconductor and communications industries.  From 1983 to 1987, he was Director of International Sales for Nanometrics, a manufacturer of semiconductor production equipment.  Mr. Okun has a B.A. in Japanese, and a Masters in International Management (MIM) from the American Graduate School of International Management.