Precapstone: Business Ideas and Entrepreneurial Innovation

Steven Denkin is the director and research advisor for the life sciences graduate programs at Harvard Extension School (HES). He works with biology and biotechnology instructors at HES to develop curricula relevant to the advancement of science in academic and industry environments. He is involved in program administration and teaches courses for the biotechnology program at HES. His aspiration for students in the life sciences includes a blend of courses that provide foundational and applied knowledge of science combined with experiential learning. Previously, he taught courses including microbiology, forensic science, and earth science to a diverse array of students in both secondary and higher education. Denkin earned his PhD at the University of Rhode Island and completed a dissertation that focused on bacterial pathogenesis. He completed postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University working on the mechanisms of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). While working at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, he developed an assessment strategy for TB diagnostics, which he used to train laboratory technicians in Haiti. While he has notable achievements in teaching and research, he also collaborates with industry leaders to enhance understanding of various program initiatives.

Nicolas Labovitis, MBA, ALM is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder of Ibex Finance Incorporated, where he partners with universities, biotechnology companies, and industry leaders to build revenue-generating education and workforce programs in biotech, artificial intelligence (AI), and health care. With a background spanning biotechnology, health care research management, and higher education leadership, Labovitis has designed and launched multiple graduate degrees, professional certificates, and industry-aligned training initiatives across institutions including Harvard Extension School, Suffolk University, and Fitchburg State University. His work focuses on translating emerging technologies into scalable programs that drive enrollment growth, workforce development, and institutional revenue. In addition to his academic leadership, Labovitis works closely with biotech founders, investors, and executives to support strategic growth, partnerships, and commercialization initiatives. He is known for combining deep industry relationships with an entrepreneurial mindset to build innovative platforms and sustainable business models at the intersection of education, health care, and technology.