THE TEAM

Built from leaders in science, diagnostics, and commercialization.

Next Step Ready combines technical innovation with proven business execution. Our team is dedicated to transforming laboratory workflows through scalable solutions that drive efficiency, consistency, and faster outcomes.

Leadership Team

  • Simon Kratzat - CEO of Next Step Ready

    Simon Kratzat

    FOUNDER & CEO

    Simon Kratzat serves as CEO of Next Step Ready Reagents (NSRR). Simon is an entrepreneur with proven record of building ventures, leading teams, and closing strategic partnerships. Prior to founding of NSRR, Simon partnered with Sergey Smulevitch in establishing and operating CLIA-certified laboratories and a clinical diagnostics company, overseeing COVID‑19 testing across 30+ Southern California locations, securing funding, and leveraging a global network to open international opportunities. 

    Earlier, Simon led commercial organizations at Thomas Scientific and at ZAGENO, expanded instrument placements and consumable sales at Bio‑Techne, and achieved outsized results at LGC Genomics managing key accounts. At Roche Diagnostics, he exceeded targets year over year, lifted e‑commerce sales, and grew territory revenue at the NIH. 

    At NSRR, Simon is leading the NexTipTM and KiTipTM commercialization as the first products in a pipeline of workflow innovations designed to increase speed to results, safety, and consistency in lab operations. 

    Simon is based in North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and children and enjoys time with his new grandchild.

  • Sergey Smulevitch President & CTO of Next Step Ready

    Sergey Smulevitch

    PRESIDENT & CTO

    Sergey is the President & CTO of Next Step Ready Reagents (NSRR) and a seasoned scientist-engineer with an M. Chem. Eng. and Ph.D. in Chemistry, brings 30+ years across academia, government, and the life-sciences industry. From individual contributor to laboratory director, Sergey has consistently delivered innovations with a laser-focus on measurable outcomes while leading medium-sized, multidisciplinary teams.

    He has held senior roles at Meso-Scale Discovery, Digene, and Roche Diagnostics, spanning assay development, platform engineering, and manufacturing transfer. As Director of Technology at Chiral Technologies, Inc., he invented and commercialized RapidTip™, taking the product from concept through development, market introduction, and customer adoption—demonstrating bench-to-market execution.

    Sergey has authored 15 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on 2 U.S. patents. At NSRR, he leads R&D, IP strategy, and product engineering, translating real-world lab needs into robust solutions—beginning with NexTip and KiTip, the first in a pipeline designed to increase speed to results, safety, and consistency in lab workflows.