Joel A Balbien, MS, Ph.D, CFA

About

Dr. Balbien has 40+ Years of financial Management, economic, engineering, & financial modeling, and forecasting experience with expertise in managing financial planning, legal, IP, and due diligence activities for both domestic and foreign corporations, as well as startups, and venture capital funds. Joel is an accomplished and visionary executive, and talented author with a proven success in raising capital, managing operational and financial aspects of the commercialization process, and advising global Clean Technology, Semiconductors, Information Technology and Life Sciences companies ranging from the Fortune 500 Companies (e.g., BASF. Sekisui Chemicals, UNOCAL/Chevron, SoCalGas/Sempra Energy) and hi-tech startups (e.g., Good Earth Mineral, ExtoLabs, Vorcat, Clinical Micro Sensors, Clean Energy Systems, Hyperlight Energy, & Tensorcom). Positions include CEO, CFO, CSO, and membership on boards, audit committees, and advisory roles at dozens of startups, public companies, and non profit corporations.  He has superior analytical and problem-solving abilities, is a persuasive communicator, and an authoritative and inspiring leader.  

Education

Professor Balbien studied Economics, Math, and Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, and received his MS/Ph.D. in Economics from the California Institute of Technology.  He also worked part time during graduate school as an operations research analyst at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he optimized procurement contracts for renewable energy related research and development projects.  His doctoral dissertation developed mathematical and empirical models of multi-period contractual relationships between a sponsor and researcher under asymmetric information and uncertainty.  As an assistant treasurer and manager of financial planning at a southern California based Fortune 500 Company, Dr. Balbien earned his CFA Credential from the CFA Institute.   

Expertise

Microeconomics

Public Policy

Startups

Clean Technology

Health Care

Cybersecurity

Energy

Publications

“Wind Turbines and Computational Fluid Dynamics,” with Jacob Krispin, WindTech International, September 1, 2021

“Let Economic Theory guide Tax reform,” Pacific Coast Business Times, August 29th, 2019 

“Microeconomics, game theory and trade negotiations”, Ventura County Star, July 14, 2018 

“Game theory can reform health care industry,” Pacific Coast Business Times, June 8, 2018

“Game theory gives entrepreneurs an edge,” Pacific Coast Business Times, February 2, 2018

“Biotech 101: Sorting It Out,” San Fernando Valley Business Journal, April 28, 2008 

“USDA Provides a Clear Catalyst for Innovation in Agriculture,” Larta VOX Feb 2008 v.9, n.11 “A Dynamic Model of Research Contracting,” The Bell Journal of Economics, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Spring, 1982), pp.107-119  http://www.jstor.org/stable/3003433

Patents: Method and Apparatus for the Alignment of a 60 GHz Endfire Antenna United States PCT/US/2013050842 Issued July 2013

Grant Funding

As a principal advisor for the Larta Institute, Joel has helped over a hundred high technology startups from all over the country successfully apply for SBIR Phase II grants from multiple federal agencies including NSF, NIH, DOE, DOT, USDA, and DOD, as well as state agencies like the CEC.