About NovaVera
Engineered Authentication. Absolute Certainty.
NovaVera embeds covert machine-readable authentication into the materials products are made from.
Our Mission
NovaVera exists to give industries absolute certainty about the authenticity and origin of their products. We engineer materials at the molecular level to create authentication solutions that cannot be replicated.
Our technology is trusted by some of the world's most demanding institutions, from central banks to pharmaceutical companies safeguarding patient health.
Leadership
John Wolfe
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
Co-founder and chief executive. John holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University, with a prior background in management consulting. He leads NovaVera's commercial strategy, enterprise partnerships, and client relationships across central bank, pharmaceutical, and industrial programs.
Josh Collins
Chief Technology Officer
Over 20 years in advanced nanomaterials and optical systems. Josh conducted foundational research under Dr. Christopher Murray at the University of Pennsylvania, bringing expertise in crystallography and spectroscopy to his direction of the Intelligent Material® platform and detection systems.
Dr. Josh Stecher
Head of Research & Development
PhD in inorganic chemistry and nanoscience, Duke University. Dr. Stecher brings over 20 years in nanomaterials and crystallography, directing the material science research that underlies NovaVera's authentication platform.
Viva Bell
Director of Operations
Viva leads operations at NovaVera, overseeing the quality systems, processes, and operational infrastructure that support client programs and manufacturing deployments.
Kevin Wolfe
Director of Business Development
Kevin leads business development at NovaVera, working with prospective clients across the company's priority industries to evaluate fit and structure deployment programs.
Science & Research
The development of phosphors spans more than a century, culminating in a breakthrough: a liquid-state nano-crystal synthesis technique that produces the only uniform sub-micron material of its kind. Intelligent Material® achieves narrow optical signatures, precise quantification at ppm–ppt sensitivity, and multiplexable authentication signals that cannot be replicated by conventional phosphors or surface coatings.
NovaVera's core material composition was developed in collaboration with world-leading researchers in nanocrystal synthesis. Our scientific advisory board brings decades of materials science expertise from leading research institutions.
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Scientific Advisor
Dr. Christopher Murray
Richard Perry University Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science & Engineering, University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Murray is one of the world's foremost authorities on nanocrystal synthesis and characterization. His foundational work on colloidal quantum dots and semiconductor nanostructures spans three decades and hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, shaping the field that underpins Intelligent Material® authentication.
Nature described Dr. Murray as “the unsung scientist behind the Nobel” in reference to the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for quantum dot research. He continually supports NovaVera's scientific efforts on the development of Intelligent Material® and sensor systems.
Nanocrystal Synthesis & Characterization, Scientific Advisory Board
Recognition
NJMEP Innovator of the Year
2022
NovaVera's sister company, Intelligent Material Solutions, Inc., received the Innovator of the Year award from the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP) in October 2022.
NJMEP is a non-profit organization backed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The award was presented at NJMEP's annual Made in New Jersey Manufacturing Day event, celebrating innovation and excellence among New Jersey manufacturers.
Defend Product Integrity
NovaVera works with central banks, pharmaceutical manufacturers, brand owners, and more on authentication programs from pilot through full production.