Matthew Schissler biotech founder, investor & entrepreneur. Discover his age, net worth, the story of Cord Blood America, and his investment ventures in 2026.
Matthew Schissler is an American business executive and entrepreneur best known for founding Cord Blood America, Inc. (CBAI), a pioneering company in the stem cell banking industry. Born on June 9, 1971, he built CBAI from a startup into one of the most recognizable cord blood storage companies in the United States and internationally. His career reflects a rare ability to spot high-potential markets early and move decisively.
Beyond his biotech roots, Schissler has evolved into a seasoned private investor and board-level strategist. He manages multiple private investment funds, sits on the boards of diverse companies, and continues to mentor the next generation of business leaders. He is a quiet force in the entrepreneurial world — not a celebrity, but a consistent builder.
Key Highlights About Matthew Schissler
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Matthew Schissler |
| Date of Birth | June 9, 1971 |
| Age | 54 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Private Investor, Business Executive |
| Education | Biology and Public Policy, St. Mary’s College of Maryland (1993) |
| Known For | Founder of Cord Blood America, Inc. (CBAI) |
| Investment Focus | Small-to-mid-cap public companies, fitness franchises, aviation |
| Estimated Net Worth | $5 million – $20 million (estimated) |
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada / Paradise Valley, AZ |
Early Life and Academic Foundation
Matthew Schissler was born on June 9, 1971, in the United States. Details about his childhood and family background remain largely private, as Schissler has consistently kept his personal life out of the spotlight. What is clear, however, is that he developed an early and genuine interest in science, innovation, and problem-solving — interests that would steer his entire career.
He pursued those interests at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he earned a degree in Biology and Public Policy in 1993. That combination was unusual and deliberately strategic. Blending the hard sciences with governance and public affairs gave him a dual lens — one that proved invaluable when he later navigated the regulatory complexities of the biotech industry.
Founding Cord Blood America: A Market No One Was Watching
Schissler’s defining entrepreneurial act came in 2003 when he founded Cord Blood America, Inc. (CBAI). The company specialized in the harvesting and long-term storage of umbilical cord stem cells — a concept that was still largely unknown to most American families at the time. Parents who enrolled with CBAI provided a small blood sample collected from the umbilical cord at birth, which CBAI stored in secure facilities for potential future medical use.
He also served simultaneously as CEO and Chairman of Cord Partners Inc., CBAI’s original stem storage vehicle, which was absorbed into CBAI in 2005. From that foundation, Schissler pursued an aggressive growth strategy through acquisitions. In 2006, CBAI purchased the Cryobank for Oncologic and Reproductive Donors (CORD) in Middletown, New York, adding 750 donors to its inventory. In 2007, the company acquired Philadelphia-based CorCell Inc. — at the time the fourth-largest cord blood bank in the US — as well as CureSource, a Charleston facility serving roughly 340 customers.
Schissler served as chairman, CEO, and president of CorCell Inc., folding it into CBAI as a subsidiary while maintaining the CorCell brand. The expansion didn’t stop at the US border. In 2010, CBAI acquired a majority stake in stellacure GmbH of Hamburg, then Germany’s third-largest cord blood banking service, and also secured majority ownership of BioCells Argentina. That same year, Schissler founded and led China Stem Cells, Inc., a storage facility operating in northeast China. Back home in 2011, CBAI added two more Chicago-based companies: Reproductive Genetics Institute, Inc. and NeoCells. He served as CEO and Chairman of CBAI until 2012.
In 2010, Schissler made the practical decision to relocate CBAI’s headquarters to Las Vegas, Nevada, citing business-friendly tax conditions, affordable laboratory space near the airport, and the city’s growing role as a hub for trade conventions.
From Biotech CEO to Private Investor
After stepping away from CBAI’s day-to-day leadership in 2012, Schissler didn’t slow down — he pivoted. Starting in 2015, he launched a series of privately held investment funds focused on small-to-mid-cap companies with significant growth potential. He describes these as “super value” funds, employing a disciplined approach to identifying undervalued public companies before the broader market catches on.
In 2021, he added another dimension to his portfolio by founding Work Your Core Investments (WYC), LLC. WYC is a privately held fund centered on acquiring and investing in fitness franchises and performance-related concepts. The fund targets unique, high-potential fitness businesses — an area that gained renewed attention following the pandemic-era fitness boom.
Also in 2021, Schissler joined the Board of Directors of Aztec Airways, a Fort Lauderdale-based carrier certificated by the FAA under FAR Part 135 as an On-Demand/Commuter Scheduled US Air Carrier. The appointment extended his boardroom footprint into aviation and reinforced his reputation as a versatile executive talent.
Civic Leadership and Community Engagement
Schissler’s ambitions have never been purely financial. In 2011, he was named chairman of the Biotech Committee for the Nevada Development Authority, helping to shape the state’s approach to attracting life sciences investment. He has also served on the board of advisors for the Las Vegas Science Festival and on the board of directors for the Las Vegas Natural History Museum. Additionally, he is a member of the Karma Foundation, reflecting a commitment to giving back.
These roles reveal a consistent pattern: Schissler uses his expertise not just to grow his own ventures, but to strengthen the ecosystems around him. His mentorship activities and advisory work across multiple industries reflect someone who sees business success as a platform for broader impact.
Entrepreneurial Recognition
In 2008 — at the height of CBAI’s expansion — Schissler was named a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The nomination was a formal recognition of what many in the biotech community already knew: that he had built something genuinely significant in a space most investors had overlooked entirely.
The acknowledgment came during one of the company’s most active acquisition years, underscoring how quickly he had scaled the business from a single concept into a multi-jurisdictional operation.
Net Worth and Financial Standing
Matthew Schissler’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed by major wealth trackers such as Forbes or Bloomberg, as the majority of his investments are held privately. Estimates based on his known business ventures, investment fund activity, and board roles place his net worth somewhere in the range of $5 million to $20 million.
His wealth is built across multiple streams — private equity returns, public market investments, advisory fees, and ongoing fund management activities. Unlike entrepreneurs whose wealth is tied to a single company, Schissler’s diversified portfolio makes him genuinely difficult to pin to a single number.
The Bottom Line
Matthew Schissler’s career is a study in calculated boldness. He identified cord blood banking as a growth market years before it entered the mainstream conversation, built it into a multi-country operation, and then redirected his energy into private investment with the same discipline and foresight. Each chapter of his career has been defined by a willingness to move first and think in systems — not just individual deals.
His contributions to Nevada’s biotech landscape, his mentorship of emerging business leaders, and his board-level work across aviation, fitness, and life sciences paint the picture of a person who builds vertically and broadly at the same time. In a world that celebrates loud success, Schissler represents something rarer: sustainable, diversified, strategic wealth built quietly and deliberately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Matthew Schissler?
Matthew Schissler is an American entrepreneur and business executive born on June 9, 1971. He is best known as the founder and former CEO of Cord Blood America, Inc. (CBAI), a stem cell banking company. He currently manages private investment funds and serves on several corporate boards.
Q2: What is Matthew Schissler’s net worth?
His net worth is estimated between $5 million and $20 million as of 2026, though no official figure has been confirmed by major wealth trackers. His income comes from private equity, public market investments, advisory roles, and fund management.
Q3: What is Cord Blood America (CBAI)?
Cord Blood America, Inc. is a company Schissler founded in 2003 that specializes in harvesting and storing umbilical cord stem cells for potential future medical use. It grew through multiple acquisitions across the US, Germany, Argentina, and China before Schissler stepped down as CEO in 2012.
Q4: Where did Matthew Schissler go to college?
He attended St. Mary’s College of Maryland, graduating in 1993 with a degree in Biology and Public Policy. That interdisciplinary background became a core asset in his biotech and regulatory work.
Q5: What investment funds does Matthew Schissler manage?
Since 2015, he has managed several privately held “super value” funds targeting small-to-mid-cap public companies. In 2021, he also founded Work Your Core Investments (WYC), LLC, a fund focused on fitness franchises and performance-related business concepts.
Q6: Has Matthew Schissler received any business awards?
Yes. In 2008, he was named a finalist for the prestigious Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, recognizing his rapid growth of Cord Blood America into an internationally operating biotech company.
Q7: What is Matthew Schissler doing in 2026?
As of 2026, Schissler continues to manage his private investment funds, serve on corporate boards including Aztec Airways, and engage in advisory and mentorship activities. He remains active in the Las Vegas and Paradise Valley business communities.
