Jay Letendre

About Jay Letendre

I’m the Founder & CEO of VeriChem, a forensic technology company commercializing patented magnetic levitation (MagLev) separation technology originally developed at Harvard.I work at the intersection of science, public safety, and systems that haven’t evolved fast enough.Over the last decade, illicit substances have become dramatically more complex—multi-component mixtures, low-concentration synthetics, masking agents—while much of the detection infrastructure used by law enforcement and forensic labs has remained fundamentally unchanged. Most tools still assume relatively simple samples. Reality no longer looks like that.At VeriChem, we’re not trying to replace existing detection technologies. We’re solving the upstream problem they all struggle with: sample complexity.MagLev is a non-destructive separation technique that physically separates complex mixtures before identification. By isolating and concentrating components, it allows existing tools—Raman, FTIR, GC-MS—to work better, faster, and with higher confidence. In practice, separation is often the missing layer in the detection stack.What makes this work meaningful to me is not novelty—it’s leverage.Instead of asking agencies and labs to adopt entirely new workflows, we integrate into what already exists. Instead of competing with incumbents, we enhance them. Instead of overpromising identification, we focus on reliability, credibility, and real-world constraints.Over the past year, we’ve completed pilots and evaluations with national labs, forensic service providers, and law-enforcement stakeholders. Those conversations directly shaped our roadmap—from lab-based separation tools to an integrated field system combining separation and identification, and ultimately toward a broader data platform that turns physical separation into actionable intelligence.My background is not just in building products—it’s in navigating slow institutions, high-stakes environments, and credibility-driven markets. I care deeply about scientific rigor, operational realism, and long-term trust. I’d rather be slower and right than fast and exposed.I’m especially interested in conversations with:• forensic scientists and lab leaders• law enforcement professionals and trainers• public-sector innovators• partners working at the intersection of hardware, data, and public safetyIf you’re working on hard problems where the solution needs to survive scrutiny—not just demos—I’m always open to connecting.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer Founder

   Verichem, Inc

   Jun 2023 — Present · US

   As CEO of a high-growth forensic technology company, I’m leading the charge to redefine how narcotics are detected in the modern era. I don’t just set the strategic vision—I operationalize it, turning breakthrough science into scalable solutions that solve real-world problems for law enforcement, forensic labs, and public safety organizations across the country.I spearheaded the development and commercialization of MagLev, a first-of-its-kind, density-based separation technology that exposes hidden narcotics in complex mixtures where traditional tools fail. Under my leadership, we secured critical patents, won the CADE Prize for innovation, and positioned the company to compete in an $8.5B U.S. market—transforming an academic invention into a commercial force.I’ve built partnerships with leading Raman and FTIR device manufacturers, national forensic labs, and major law enforcement agencies, creating an ecosystem that amplifies our impact. Simultaneously, I’ve led capital raises, expanded operational capacity, and driven our pre-seed scale-up with urgency and precision.What drives me is the opportunity to bring new thinking—and new technology—to a crisis where old tools no longer work. We’re not just building a company. We’re rewriting the rules of forensic science.

Education

• Keene State College

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Management (School of Sciences & Social Sciences)

  1998 — 2002

Skills

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• B2b Marketing
• Leadership
• Inbound Marketing
• A/B Testing
• Competitive Analysis
• Business Strategy
• Sales
• Start-Ups
• Social Media
• Itam
• Email Marketing
• Saas
• Customer Relationship Management (Crm)
• Software as a Service (Saas)
• Business Development
• Google Analytics
• Digital Marketing
• Public Sector
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Dcim
• Data Center
• Marketing Strategy
• Content Management Systems (Cms)
• Strategic Planning
• Event Management
• Wordpress
• Project Management
• Web Content Creation
• Trade Shows
• Linkedin
• Social Media Marketing
• Salesforce.com
• New Business Development
• Entrepreneurship
• Strategy
• Email Newsletter Design
• Product Management
• Strategic Partnerships
• Online Marketing