Hi!

I'm Jonah Probell.

Professionally

My resume is available on LinkedIn.

I am a professional investor in the genetic engineering revolution.

I began my career as a chip designer and later became a software patent expert. I just love startups. I co-founded two and worked for five others. Two went public. But the world was changing. The chip business was dominated by a few large companies. The software business was commoditizing. My credibility wasn't in the next big thing. So I became an investor.

I paused to study the history of humanity's compounding development of technologies. Language, barter, specialization, metals, mechanical devices, carbon fuels, electricity, radio, space. I have lived through four important compounding waves.

Most thinkers on the subject forecast that the next tech wave will be in the engineering of living things. That includes, people, plants, and microbes. Genetic engineering. It will be applied to these purposes.

• Cures for the worst and most expensive diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, diabetes, and children’s genetic diseases
• Safe vaccines against deadly and disruptive diseases
• Early diagnosis of diseases so that they can be cured without suffering
• Plants that provide healthier food in places where it is needed to prevent famines in a changing global climate
• Biomanufacturing of products and procurement of resources that improve the quality of people’s lives

There are already thousands of genetic engineering startup companies working magic. The greatest constraint on bringing their innovations to the world is the amount of money being invested in genetic engineering startups.

My objective is to ensure that mine and my investing partners' money is invested in the ones with the greatest chance of creating the greatest value to people. I am proud to work, constantly, to do that.

Personally

I seek to broaden my horizons. I often learn everything that I can about something new. Wikipedia is my favorite web site. I enjoy writing and teaching because that's the best way to learn.

I love that I have diverse friends and acquaintances. I view strangers as friends that I have yet to meet. I enjoy helping others. I like challenging dogma with reason. I will take either side for the sake of a good debate.

I enjoy cycling and tend a fine garden. I watch live theater but not television. I like cloudy weather and wind. I am selective about what organizations I join.

I love to travel, have spent time in most US states and many nations, and have a friend in each one. Though I wander, I spend most of my time in Silicon Valley, the world's largest magnet for innovators.

I enjoy trying new languages, but I know only one fluently. Lately, I am studying Mandarin and reading traditional Chinese characters. I enjoy limericks, wordplay, thoughtful sayings, and general trivia. I like studying maps and have a good sense of direction. I drive a stick shift and can back up a trailer.

If your name is Probell, please let me know, especially if you are interested in having an email address ending in @probell.com. Otherwise, just enjoy this site.

Publications

Here is a list of some things that I have written. You can also search for me on Google Scholar and Google Patents. Lately, I have found tweeting to be a more efficient format for writing.