— Bob Duggan
From robotic-assisted surgeries using hi-def 3D cameras being conducted across oceans to FDA-approved breakthrough cancer drugs, from the creation of the gateway to the Internet to pioneering the first-ever use of a credit card online, technology moves fast, and so does Bob Duggan.
Having played an executive role in all the above, Bob is a high-tech entrepreneur. He is very proud to have worked with exceptional men and women in medicine and technology.
Bob is the majority shareholder and is on the Board of Directors of Pulse Biosciences and Summit Therapeutics, where he also serves as CEO.
Both companies are in the medical space with the mission to produce patient-friendly and significant improvements in treatment and care. Driven by a purpose to accomplish meaningful work as well as his own five decades of business experience, Bob sees the opportunity to work for the betterment of all involved with these two companies and their brilliant teams.
Looking at his career, Bob attributes success to the many geniuses he encountered and worked with. He was fortunate and thoughtful enough to pull together teams who accomplished outstanding work.
During this process, he encountered the 24 Characteristics of Genius, written by Dr. Alfred Barrios, which recognized that genius is inborn and inherent in everyone. The word genius comes from gen “that which produces” and ius “that which contains”.
Genius resonated with Bob, as it does with many people, and he took on the responsibility and mission to promote this awareness.
Bob speaks about the 24 Characteristics of Genius to businesses, children, and groups to reinforce and inspire the genius in others.
Education comes from educare - Latin, "to draw out that which lies within". Through his speaking engagements and personal interactions, you'll see Bob drawing out the genius and innate abilities of everyone he meets.
Bob graduated cum laude from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Ca, where he served as the Vice President of his student body.
Bob then attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he first met his mentor, Herbert C. Kay, a Wharton fellow and acclaimed Stanford alumnus. Bob completed a full-time three-year apprenticeship under Kay's guidance, during which his roots as a venture capitalist were established.
An alumnus of UCSB, Bob has served on its Board of Trustees since 1989 and funded two chairs in Mathematical, Life, and Physical Sciences. He delivered the commencement address at UCSB to the graduating class of 2009.
Bob is a founding donor to the Institute for Energy Efficiency, the XIV Dalai Lama Chair in Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies, Athletics, and is a member of the UC Santa Barbara Gold Circle Society.
Contributions to causes that align with Bob's mission to do good include social betterment, human rights, education, and drug rehabilitation.
2020
Summit Therapeutics redomiciled to Delaware, USA.
2019
Investor, Chairman & CEO — Summit Therapeutics
2017
Investor — Summit Therapeutics
2017
Investor & Board Member — Human Longevity Inc.
2017
Investor & Chairman of the Board — Pulse Biosciences
2016
Investor — Pulse Biosciences
2016
Presented with the Venky Narayanamurti Entrepreneurial Leadership Award
2016
Investor & Non-Executive Director — OxStem
2016
Founder, Investor & CEO — Duggan Investments
2016
Founder & CEO — Genius Inc.
2008 - 2015
Chairman & CEO — Pharmacyclics (PCYC)
2007
Director — Pharmacyclics (PCYC)
2004 - 2008
Investor — 2004 Initial open market purchase of PCYC shares. ’04 to ’08 accumulated in excess of 30% of PCYC.
2003 - 2011
Investor & Board Member — Intuitive Surgical
2003
Computer Motion merged with Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) — Became worldwide leader in medical robotics.
2000
Awarded Knight of the Legion of Honor by French President Jacques Chirac for work on robotic surgical technology
1997 - 2003
Founder, Investor & Chairman — Metropolis Media
1989 - 2003
Investor, Chairman & CEO — Computer Motion
1989
Trustee — UC Santa Barbara Foundation
1987 - 1990
Board Member – Santa Barbara Museum of Art
1987 - 1990
Executive Vice President – Santa Barbara Symphony
1985
Presented the US Congressman’s Medal of Merit by Texas Congressman Dr. Ron Paul
1983 - 1988
Investor & Chairman of the Board — Communication Machinery Company
1980 - 1986
Investor — Government Technology Services Inc. (GTSI)
1976 - 1987
Founder, Investor, Chairman & CEO — Paradise Bakery
1971 - 1975
Investor & Board Member — Sunset Designs (Jiffy Stitchery)
1966 - 1968
Studied Business Management & Corporate Finance — Transferred to University of California, Los Angeles
1962
Studied Economics — University of California, Santa Barbara
1958
Attended St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Ca., graduated cum laude and V.P. of his student body.
1944
28 April Born in Oakland California; moved to San Jose/Santa Clara in 1948. Raised in San Jose/Santa Clara area.
● Received US Congressional Medal of Merit from Dr. Ron Paul
● Included on Forbes Billionaire list
● Received a Key to the City of Shanghai
● Named a Knight of the French Legion of Honor by French President Jacques Chirac, specifically for Duggan’s innovative thinking
Anyone who has a video conference with Bob will immediately spot his favorite painting directly behind him. The painter, Roberto Cantillo, is a young Costa Rican whom Bob met and immediately commissioned to paint a mural in his home. The green-eye jaguar cub painting was mentioned in a Forbes article about Bob in October 2020 and can be enjoyed here.
“The cherishing or pursuit of high or noble principles, purposes and goals can lead to levels of creation that spark unparalleled joy.”
“By striving to achieve great things, not just for yourself, but for the betterment of mankind, some will accuse you of being idealistic. Surely, there are worse things to be accused of.”
“Do continue as there is no limit to innovation, joy, happiness and wealth.”
Bob Duggan