Our Team

A team with diverse strengths,
we have the experience and relationships necessary to help startup and early-stage life sciencescompanies grow and thrive. We are entrepreneurs and investors, so we’ve sat on both sides of the table.

Ron Heffernan

Managing Partner

Twitter LinkedIn
“Integrity is the quality I most value when qualifying business partners."

Ron has over 20 years of hands-on experience in executive leadership, sales, strategy, finance and capital raising for both start-ups and established companies across industry verticals. A serial entrepreneur, angel investor and licensed investment banker, Ron brings a well-rounded, balanced perspective to solving any business challenge.

Ron is also Managing Partner of Mountain Pacific Venture Fund, a venture capital fund focused on early- and growth-stage life sciences and medical technology companies. In 2014, Ron co-founded Church & State, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to creating a sustainable entrepreneur ecosystem and business incubation platform. He previously served as interim CEO of Promotus, a medical device company that has created a novel knee rehabilitation device. Ron has assisted numerous companies in raising capital and securing strategic financing.

Previously, Ron co-founded and served as CEO of multiple technology and web development companies, most notably Lead Dog Design, an award-winning full-service web development provider that served numerous Fortune 500 clients, including McGraw Hill, The Bank of New York and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Under his leadership Lead Dog Design experienced 100% growth every year for three straight years, earning Ron prestigious recognition as one of Ernst & Young’s top entrepreneurs. After Lead Dog Design was acquired by Iconixx Corporation, one of the top ten largest new media development firms, Ron served as Iconixx Vice President of the Northeast Region before spearheading the re-acquisition of Lead Dog Digital and serving as its President/CEO and, ultimately, its Chairman. Lead Dog Digital was eventually acquired by Bridgeline Software [NASDAQ: BLIN].

Earlier in his career, Ron was a top sales representative for Olympus Medical and Circon ACMI. He also started a successful company selling used medical devices.

Ron received his B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany and completed various Executive Education classes through The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He holds Series 62, Series 63 and Series 79 licenses.

Our Values

We are driven by an unwavering commitment to integrity and ethical business, and a dedication to improving the lives of those in our community and around the world.

We seek innovation, openness, creativity and diversity, and we only accept engagements where we believe we can add value.

Our Heritage

LDD was born during the dot-com boom as a graphic design and web development firm, and has evolved into a full-service strategic management consulting and angel investing firm focused on helping innovators who are solving the world’s most complex challenges.

Lead Dog Design (LDD) is founded as a leading-edge graphic design and web development firm, with offices in New York City.

LDD opens a branch office in Santa Monica, California.

LDD is recognized as one of the “Top New Media Firms” in New York City.

LDD is acquired by Iconixx, one of the top ten largest media development firms.

Ten months later, LDD is bought back and re-envisioned as Lead Dog Digital.

Ernst & Young recognizes Ron Heffernan as one of the top entrepreneurs in New York City.

LDD is acquired by Bridgeline Software, now Bridgeline Digital [NASDAQ: BLIN].

LDD is reborn in Salt Lake City, Utah as LDD Partners, as a strategic management consulting and angel investing firm whose focus today is to advance life sciences and transform healthcare.

LDD Partners merges with Paperjungle, a strategic communications firm.

LDD Partners is rebranded as LDD