Dr. Charles Bruce serves as Chief Innovation Officer for Mayo Clinic Florida. Healso serves as the Medical Director of the Innovation Exchange, as well as MedicalDirector for the Center for Digital Health, Director for Business Development for theCenter for Regenerative Biotherapeutics at Mayo Clinic in Florida and AssociateMedical Director for Mayo Clinic Department of Development. He is a practicingcardiologist as well as a researcher, inventor, and professor of Medicine. Hisunique perspective into the challenges of health care delivery are shaped by hismedical experiences in South Africa and the United States. Dr. Bruce is anaccomplished innovator who helped create seven start-up companies. He holdsmore than 60 issued patents for medical inventions

Stephanie received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2012 from Florida Southern College. She received her M.S. in Medical Sciences (2015) and her Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology (2016) from the University of South Florida. Stephanie was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Kentucky in the Department of Neurology. In addition to her postdoctoral appointment, she also interned part-time with the UK Office of Technology Commercialization from January to July 2019. Before joining the Innovation Office, Stephanie was selected for the 2019-2020 Executive Branch AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program, where she served as a Program Manager in the National Institute on Aging Office of Small Business Research. She has served as the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Small Business Program Coordinator since December 2020.

Dr. Julie Ducharme is a dynamic leader, keynote speaker, national best-selling author, professor, and serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in empowering others. She is the visionary behind the Lead and Empower Her SHE Talks movement, a nationwide women’s empowerment conference that provides women with platforms to speak, write, and inspire others. As the founder of JD Consulting, she helps businesses scale and increase brand visibility through creative, viral marketing campaigns. Dr. Ducharme is also deeply committed to education, actively shaping future leaders as a professor and championing youth as the future of this world. With her focus on leadership, business strategy, and female empowerment, she is a sought-after speaker, advisor, and thought leader, working to inspire and empower through her ventures and publications.

Navin Govind is a serial entrepreneur; investor, venture partner at Evidence Ventures, startup advisor, author of several original papers in peer reviewed journals, holds multiple patents and serves as speaker, faculty and advisory boards on digital health innovation. Navin is the founder and CEO of Aventyn, a digital therapeutics company focused on delivering clinically validated platform solutions for improving cardio renal metabolic health. Navin has worked at the intersection of technology, medical device and software platforms for evidencing best in class clinical solutions working with clinician leaders, providers, femtech innovators and global clients. As co-founder of K-Labs, Navin leads strategic health data collaboration initiatives to bring science based; advanced AI enabled deep learning solutions to lower the burden of chronic disease, cost of care, and better health outcomes. Navin is deeply committed to helping shape science based digital health standards, equitable and sustainable policy initiatives for affordable access to quality care. Navin serves as an advisor on the American Heart Association Center for Health Technology and Innovation Business Team.

Bronwyn Harris is a pediatric cardiologist who clinically practices part-time at Stanford. She has been working in the digital health space for the past decade with a range of experiences from starting her own company to working at Apple. She is currently Chief Transformation Officer for CareEvolution, a health software company with a one-stop digital research platform. Bronwyn is passionate about using patient-generated health data to empower patients and overall improve clinical care.

Eric Hsu is a corporate and securities partner in the life sciences practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He represents emerging growth companies in areas such as medical devices, digital health, and biotechnology. Eric advises public and private companies on general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, public company reporting, strategic partnerships, venture capital financings, and private equity and debt financings.

Rachael Kim is a trailblazer in the femtech ecosystem, known for her dynamic leadership of the national Femtech Salon series in LA, NYC, ATL, AUS, and NASH. In two years, she has produced over 20 events and built a robust platform for femtech founders, driving equity and innovation across digital health, diagnostics, CPG, wellness, and beauty. Her efforts have garnered support from esteemed sponsors and partners such as Techstars, Orrick, JPMC, BCGX, Dutch Consulate and iHeartMedia Ventures.

Based in Los Angeles, Rachael seeks to broaden her initial investment thesis with other impact investors to support femtech and diverse founders within the next 18 month. Her mission is to introduce alternative investment models that benefit both startups and investors. Rachael's journey into VC is inspired by her personal health challenges and extensive expertise in strategy advisory, international program mobilization, and ecosystem building. Before becoming a femtech founder, she solo backpacked across four continents and 18 countries, showcasing her adventurous spirit and dedication to making a difference.

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Dr. Mo Kagalwala received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and MBA from UCSD Rady School of Management.  Dr. Kagalwala completed postdoctoral fellowships at MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Salk Institute. In 2020, he moved to Immuneering Corporation as Head/Sr. Director of Neuroscience Development where he played a pivotal role in advancing two drug pipelines, and straddled business development leading to successful pharma partnerships, including an IPO exit. Later, Dr. Kagalwala co-founded AlleoLabs, an early-stage biotech company focused on developing precision medicine for CNS diseases. His research topics mainly include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological disorders over the last 19years. Dr. Kagalwala enjoys mentoring next generation of entrepreneurs at the Basement and StartR programs at UCSD.  

Tim is Director of Early-Stage Life Science Startups at Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, in San Francisco Bay Area. In this role, he mentors and advises startups at the beginning stages of their journey, connecting them to the larger SVB ecosystem and accelerating them to Series A via company building and fundraising strategies. Before joining SVB, Tim spent 16 years in medical device focused on early commercialization. From sales to surgeon training to sales leadership, he played an integral role in bringing medical devices from concept to the operating room to becoming the ‘gold standard’ of care. He is excited to bring his experience to SVB’s startup banking team helping founder’s find success.

Lily Li, Ph.D. has over 15 years of experience in venture capital, operating roles at leading biotech companies, and management consulting. Lily was most recently Director at Northpond Ventures, where she focused on investing in enabling life sciences tools, diagnostics, and therapeutic platforms. She was a board director at several companies, including Personal Genome Diagnostics (acquired by LabCorp), Ansa Bio, 1859 Inc, SpeeDx, and Vestaron. Previously, Lily led corporate and business development at Illumina and led strategic marketing and business development at NanoString Technologies. Lily was a management consultant in the life sciences practice at L.E.K. Consulting, where she served as a strategic advisor to a broad range of corporate clients and life science investors. Lily received her Ph.D. in molecular and systems pharmacology from Emory University.

Theresa Neil is the founder of the award-winning women-led product design consultancy Guidea and a 3x published O'Reilly author. Named a “Top Designer in Technology” by Business Insider, Theresa works with global pharma, life science, medtech and healthcare companies to design products that measurably improve health outcomes. Her women's health equity program, Femovate, is currently supporting 50 early stage femtech startups with $1.5M in UX research and design services.

Sarah has practiced public accounting since 1999 primarily serving clients in the technology and life sciences industries, including software, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She consults clients in the application and implementation of new accounting policies and technical guidance in compliance with SEC, SOX 404, and US GAAP requirements. In addition, she has led numerous initial public offerings and merger and acquisition activities including due diligence and related accounting and SEC reporting. Prior to joining Moss Adams, she spent 20 years at a Big Four firm, where she was most recently a director in the life science practice.

Naseem is an Operating Advisor and Venture Partner with How Women Invest Fund III where she invests in 100% female-founded teams across healthcare, climate, fintech, and the future of work at Series A/B. Over the last seven years, Naseem has invested as a VC and an angel in 30+ pre-seed and seed-stage companies led by ambitious female founders who are changing foundational systems, access, and equity so that women can live stronger, healthier, and wealthier lives. Naseem’s investing and business-building experience comes from 20+ years in executive leadership roles across venture capital, management consulting, agency services, venture incubators, a corporate venture capital firm, and an active angel investor.  Naseem is a thought leader in the start-up ecosystem and a go-to contact for most founders when making business, talent, and fundraising decisions as they grow and scale their businesses. Naseem has an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business, where she was awarded the Dean’s Leadership Award two years running, and a BA from UCLA in Business Economics, where she graduated cum laude.

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Paola is a dedicated translational scientist with a Ph.D., postdoctoral work, and industry experience at BioMarin Pharma, where she pioneered novel approaches to disease biology and advocated for women's health. Specializing in fibrosis, neurometabolic disorders, and cardiovascular diseases, she supports clinical and preclinical programs. An entrepreneurial leader, she has contributed to ventures through Life Science Angels and advisory roles at Berkeley Skydeck. Recently, she organized innovation showcases for the California Life Science Innovation & Entrepreneurship Subcommittee and, as Head of Life Science Programs at INNOVIT, connected entrepreneurs with the life sciences community. At Aquilius Ventures, she identifies early-stage companies transforming human health and promoting environmental sustainability.

As the Managing Partner at Aquillius Ventures, I oversee the investment strategy, portfolio management, and deal sourcing of a leading VC firm that focuses on early-stage startups in the biotech, medtech and agtech sectors. I also serve as the Vice President at the Aquillius Innovation Hub, where I manage the operations, financial planning, and business development of the firm. Additionally, I am a board member of Microtek, Inc., a microelectronic manufacturing company that provides innovative solutions for the medtech industry. I hold an MBA in Finance from the University of Colorado Denver and a certificate from VC University, where I learned the latest trends and best practices in the VC field. I am proficient in investment analysis, data analysis, and SWOT analysis, and I have a passion for finding and supporting disruptive and scalable businesses that can make a positive impact on the world. I value collaboration, diversity, innovation, and social responsibility, and I seek to work with like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, and partners.

Mai Zymaris is a partner in Ice Miller’s Business Group, specializing in guiding clients through U.S. and cross-border life sciences transactions while leading the Vietnam desk of the Asia-Pacific Practice Group. With extensive expertise in licensing, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and intellectual property-focused transactions, Mai counsels pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, as well as academic institutions, on partnerships, research agreements, and commercialization strategies.

Beyond her legal practice, Mai is deeply engaged in the startup ecosystem. She is the founder and President of VietChallenge, the largest global Vietnamese startup program, which has helped launch over 800 companies in the past 10 years. Mai also co-founded and co-hosts the Boston Life Sciences Showcase and runs the exclusive Life Sciences Executive Dinner Program, fostering meaningful connections among industry leaders and innovators.