P&G-backed startup designs medical device to save lives amid pandemic

Procter & Gamble Co. provided a seed grant to help create Venti-Now, a Blue Ash nonprofit launched in late March that has just received FDA approval to make a portable and affordable ventilator to help Covid-19 patients. The goal is to license the design for manufacture around the world.

John Molander, 63, president of Venti-Now, retired from P&G in 2013 after nearly 34 years with the Cincinnati-based maker of consumer goods such as Charmin toilet paper (NYSE: PG).

The Montgomery resident assembled a team of 30 volunteers, about half of whom are P&G alums, to form the company and design, build and test the initial product in three weeks. He was inspired to launch Venti-Now after one of his sisters who is an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Karin Molander of California, told him of the urgent need for ventilators.

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Story excerpt provided by The Cincinnati Business Courier.

Written by Barrett J. Brunsman.

Originally published May 1, 2020.