Startups
Montara Therapeutics
Montara Therapeutics is a San Francisco biotechnology company developing brain-selective medicines for neurological diseases. Its BrainOnly platform combines a brain-penetrant therapeutic with a peripheral blocker intended to limit drug activity outside the brain. The platform derives from UCSF research and an exclusive technology license. Its lead program, MTX-E1, combines the MT1110 peripheral blocker with everolimus for tuberous sclerosis complex-related epilepsy; additional research targets Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions. As of September 2026, Montara was completing IND-enabling work and preparing for first-in-human studies. Its programs remain investigational. Founder and CEO Nicholas T. Hertz leads the company with Chief Medical Officer David Michelson, Chief Technology Officer Zachary Hill and Chief Business Officer Dirk Landgraf. The company raised an $8 million seed round in July 2024 and a $20 million seed expansion in March 2025, totaling $28 million in seed financing. The Michael J. Fox Foundation subsequently supported separate LRRK2 and mTOR Parkinson's research projects with non-dilutive grants.
Founded 2023
Team
 Andrew MillerBoard Member |
 David MichelsonChief Medical Officer |
 Dirk LandgrafChief Business Officer |
 Eric KarranNeuroscience Advisor |
 J. Seth StrattanBoard Member |
 Jacqueline FrenchClinical Advisor |
 James SummersNeuroscience Advisor |
 Jenna AronsonBoard Observer |
 John BurkhardtToxicology Advisor |
 Joseph ArenaRegulatory Affairs Advisor |
 Kevan ShokatCo-Scientific Founder & Chairman of the SAB |
 Martin KampmannCo-Scientific Founder & SAB Member |
 Max LebovitzVice President, Business Operations |
 Michael KeiserSAB Member |
 Miles GersonBoard Member |
 Miratul MuqitSAB Member |
 Nicholas T. HertzFounder, President and Chief Executive Officer · Board Member |
 Rishi RakhitVice President, Pharmacology |
 Shawn JohnstoneSynthetic Chemistry Advisor |
 Stevan DjuricMedicinal Chemistry Advisor |
Thomas SudhofScientific Co-Founder |
 Troy WilsonChair of the Board |
 Zachary HillChief Technology Officer |
 Ziyang ZhangSAB Member |