Founder - Kiyatec

Since immigrating to the United States 25 years ago, Canadian native Matt Gevaert has accomplished a lot. A master's degree from Clemson University's internationally renowned bioengineering program turned into a Ph.D, and grondbreaking cancer research.

"Since immigrating to the United States 25 years ago, Canadian native Matt Gevaert has accomplished a lot. A master's degree from Clemson University's internationally renowned bioengineering program turned into a Ph.D, and grondbreaking cancer research."

Since immigrating to the United States 25 years ago, Canadian native Matt Gevaert has accomplished a lot. A master’s degree from Clemson University’s internationally renowned bioengineering program turned into a Ph.D, and grondbreaking cancer research. Then, in 2005, he founded KIYATEC and the growth that has resulted has been astounding.
Gevaert says it’s a privilege to have Greenville as part of his story, and the support of the community has helped make KIAYTEC’s success possible.

Matt Gevaert: Building the Future of Precision Oncology

When Matt Gevaert co-founded Kiyatec, the vision was ambitious: help physicians understand how an individual patient’s cancer would respond to treatment before therapy begins.

Today, that vision is helping shape the future of precision medicine.

Founded in Greenville and built on technology originally developed at Clemson University, Kiyatec has spent more than a decade advancing a platform that uses living tumor cells from a patient’s own cancer to predict therapeutic response. Rather than relying solely on genetic markers, Kiyatec’s technology allows clinicians to observe how an individual’s cancer reacts to specific treatments, helping identify the therapies most likely to be effective.

What began as a research-focused startup has grown into a commercial-stage biotechnology company serving both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies.

A major milestone came in 2022 when Kiyatec closed an $18 million Series C funding round, providing the capital needed to accelerate commercialization of its functional precision oncology platform and expand its clinical operations in Greenville. The company established a CLIA-certified laboratory that now serves as the foundation for its growing diagnostic testing business.

As the company entered its next phase of growth, Gevaert transitioned from CEO to Board Member in 2024, handing leadership to diagnostics industry veteran Eric Perreault. The move marked a natural evolution for the company as it shifted from technology development to commercial scale-up while allowing Gevaert to remain closely involved in Kiyatec’s long-term strategy.

Under its current leadership, Kiyatec has continued to expand its impact. The company has published promising clinical data supporting its 3D Predict platform for glioblastoma patients, strengthened partnerships with pharmaceutical companies and research organizations, and expanded development efforts into additional cancer types including ovarian, breast, and lung cancers.

In 2025, Kiyatec announced a strategic investment and commercial partnership with South Korean technology company MBD. The partnership will bring advanced laboratory automation to Kiyatec’s Greenville operations, helping the company scale testing capabilities, reduce turnaround times, and accelerate the rollout of additional diagnostic products.

Today, Kiyatec stands as one of Greenville’s most significant life sciences success stories. What started as a local startup has grown into a company working to transform cancer care by giving physicians and patients greater confidence in one of the most important decisions they will ever make: choosing the right treatment.

In 2026, Matt Gevaert remains the founder of Kiyatec, though he is no longer CEO. In 2024, Kiyatec appointed Eric Perreault as CEO, with Gevaert continuing as a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Under its current leadership, Kiyatec has continued advancing its functional precision oncology platform, including published data on its 3D Predict Glioma test, CAP accreditation and New York State approval for 3D Predict, and a strategic investment and partnership with South Korean partner MBD to support U.S. commercial expansion.