Ashok Gowda, PhD
Executive Chairman

Dr. Gowda is the Executive Chairman of Biotex, where he previously served as CEO until 2025. Under his leadership, the company secured over $25 million in non-dilutive funding, successfully licensed multiple early-stage technologies, and helped launch numerous startups through angel and venture capital funding. He also established Biotex’s partnering program, collaborating with physicians and entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize innovative medical technologies.

Before Biotex, Dr. Gowda co-founded and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Visualase, Inc., which Medtronic acquired for $100 million in 2014. He remains an active investor, advisor, and board member for multiple MedTech companies.

Dr. Gowda has been the principal investigator on over 15 NIH grants, authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications and abstracts, and holds more than 30 issued patents. He earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Texas A&M University.

Manish Ahuja
Chief Executive Officer

Manish Ahuja is the Chief Executive Officer at Biotex and has over 13 years of extensive experience directing research and development in medical, laboratory, and in vitro diagnostic devices. He also brings vast knowledge, experience, and expertise in the design and development of medical and laboratory devices in various franchise portfolios, including but not limited to neurosurgery, interventional radiology, vascular systems, pain management, orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, and urology.

At Biotex, Manish leads cross-functional research and development teams comprising industrial designers, software architects, developers, and engineers to produce and sustain premium, innovative medical products for Biotex and partner clients. He also directs and manages Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs.

Before joining Biotex in 2010, Manish worked as Director of Engineering at Ansh Labs, LLC, where he envisioned, architected, designed, tested, and actualized innovative laboratory devices.

Prior to his role at Ansh Labs, Manish headed image guidance and interventional pain management groups while working as Director of Device Engineering with Minrad, Inc., where he was involved in the development of a drug delivery system for human anesthesia and analgesia. He was also in charge of supporting image guidance production, performing clinical trials, and improving the reliability and marketability of the products, including surgical drills, liver tumor ablation, syringes, pain management, bone biopsy, soft tissue biopsy, and radiofrequency needles.

Manish holds an M.S. degree in Mechanical Systems and Design from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi.

Charles Houssiere
Chief Business Officer

Charles Houssiere is the Chief Business Officer at Biotex, in charge of developing long-term business strategies to foster growth and advancement, gain market advantage, and establish strong business relationships with the company's new and existing partners.

In addition to his role as CBO, Charles leads design, including mechanical and industrial, and operations throughout all projects at Biotex for local and international clients, particularly those for neurosurgery, cardiology, orthopedics, and respiratory medicine.

In 2014, Charles was the primary engineering contact for Medtronic's acquisition of up to $105M.He was also the lead engineer and manufacturing manager throughout the initial development and commercialization of Biotex's Visualase product line.

Before joining Biotex, Charles held positions in startup medical device development at several companies for the past 16 years. He has worked as a development engineer at Avail Medical (now a subsidiary of Flextronics) and Fairway Medical, where he was involved in designing electro-mechanical medical devices ranging from optical implants to drug delivery systems to tissue incubation and transport solutions. He was also a significant part of the stent delivery and micropulse oximetry projects at IDev Technologies (acquired by Abbott) and MicroNova.

Charles received his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, in 2007, where he completed work in mechanical design using FEA analysis and electronic packaging. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, in 2003. He is also a graduate of The Kinkaid School and involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Gulf Coast Medical Device Manufacturers.

Andre Marquette
Vice President Business Development

Andre joined Biotex in October 2018 as Vice President of Business Development, bringing over 20 years of global commercial experience with early-stage healthcare companies. He has held leadership positions in marketing, sales, business development, and international at NeuroPace, Visualase (Medtronic), St. Jude Medical (Neuromodulation-Deep Brain Stimulation), Nanospectra, Cyberonics, and EmCare.

Before joining Biotex, Andre was a principal in significant value creation at three early-stage companies, leading to successful exits. As the 3rd commercial employee at Visualase (Stereotactic Laser Ablation), Andre was Vice President of Sales and Marketing, joining to execute the full commercial launch, which led to the sale of the company to Medtronic Neurosurgery for up to $105M (more than 10X equity invested). During his 5+ year tenure, cumulative sales grew from less than $1 million to over $80 million.

Prior to Visualase, Andre joined Cyberonics as the 2nd commercial person to execute the global launch of the VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) Therapy System. During his 12+ year tenure, cumulative sales grew from 0 to more than $800 million and a market cap of $1.2 billion.

Before Cyberonics, Andre was part of the management team that grew and sold EmCare for $400 million to AMR, Inc.

Andre holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Rice University.