About Don Nicolson
Don brings a wealth of experience at the crossroads of private capital, real estate strategy, and innovation, with a focus on industries such energy, biotech, and advanced materials. As the Chief Investment Strategist at PHS7 Land, he plays a pivotal role in the firm’s capital formation and long-term growth. Don expertly advises on the design and execution of project-level investment structures, ensuring alignment of risk and return for a diverse range of investor groups.
Don’s work focuses on ensuring that each land acquisition opportunity is financially sound and structured to maximize value at exit. He helps the company manage investor syndication, milestone-based return profiles, and capital deployment strategies to ensure each project is optimized for both upside potential and downside protection. His background leading high-impact ventures and raising capital across complex, regulated industries brings an added layer of discipline to PHS7 Land’s model.
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Prior to joining PHS7 Land, Don held senior leadership roles in a range of entrepreneurial and strategic ventures, including:
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Strategic capital development for large-scale battery manufacturing and renewable energy projects
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Sales and operations leadership in the nutraceutical sectors, building market share and scaling emerging brands
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Executive consulting in biotechnology and medical infrastructure, contributing to the advancement of critical global health initiatives
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Leadership of Advance Fiber Technologies, where he oversaw the development of novel chemical solutions for performance textiles
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Facilitating a landmark remediation initiative involving the U.S. EPA, the Government of Vietnam, and the Ford Foundation, leading to the first U.S. led environmental project at Da Nang Airport since the Vietnam War, addressing dioxin-contaminated soils and sediments
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He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Vermont, an MBA from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, and has studied at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Don currently serves on the advisory boards of multiple organizations across the health and materials science sectors.