Peter Balnaves

Executive Summary

Peter Balnaves has over 25 years executive and board experience in strategy development, commercialization, transformation, and venture development. 

Currently, he serves as Senior Advisor and Adjunct Associate Professor in Duke University's Pratt Engineering Graduate and Professional Programs, where he leads courses on AI-enabled business models and finance for high-tech enterprises.

In the past decade, Mr. Balnaves he has partnered with corporations, private equity, and venture firms, focusing on strategy, growth, and transformation. He has guided 34 deep tech startups from concept to Series A and reduced their time-to-market by ~20%. As a board advisor and non-executive director, he has launched eight startups across six countries and led over 20 growth and product programs in AI, bioengineering, cyber-physical, energy, and materials.

Previously, as COO of a leading accelerator focusing on AI, AI chips, and advanced materials, he drove a 10% CAGR by positioning the firm as the preferred co-investment and operational partner across Southeast Asia. 

As a Partner at Boston Consulting Group, he held global, regional, and operational roles, including P&L responsibility for the advanced technology service line. He advised global clients on strategy, growth, M&A, and operations in sectors like AI, biotech, nanotech, photonics and renewables.

In industry roles, he held P&L responsibility for a $1.2B division of a Fortune 20 company. He led major digital transformations, turnarounds, and restructurings. Notably, he co-led CVS's digital integration with Caremark, establishing a $100B industry leader within 2.5 years.

He has served as an advisor to BCG’s Henderson Institute, Techstars Accelerator, and Y Combinator-backed startups, on topics in AI, dark pools, green hydrogen, and photonics. He has been a frequent speaker at Cornell, Duke, Harvard, MIT Sloan, and UPeWharton.

Mr. Balnaves holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, Duke (MBA), and IE Business School (Doctorate).