
Catalyst Capital Symposia
Innovation in Women's Health Pitch Showcase
Event Overview:
The event is a dynamic pitch showcase aimed at discovering and supporting groundbreaking solutions that address critical issues in women’s health. By bringing together innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs from around the globe, this event seeks to accelerate advancements in areas such as reproductive health, mental well-being, and chronic disease management. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their ideas, gain valuable mentorship, and compete for prizes, all while contributing to the improvement of women’s health outcomes worldwide.
Application Phase
- Submission: Participants must apply to pitch and submit application by May 1, 2025, 11:59 PM PST.
- Applicants: Any startup at any stage is eligible to apply, provided they are already formed as a legal entity.
- Focus: Startups are developing technologies specifically to improve women's health.
- Screening: Applications are reviewed by a committee which will select the finalists.
- Finalists: Finalists are committing to pitching in-person in Boston, MA.
Preparation Phase
- Workshops: Training sessions on effective pitching and presentation skills will be provided to the Finalists.
Pitch Presentation
- Format: Participants present their business ideas to a panel of judges, which may include investors, industry experts, or successful entrepreneurs. Startups will have a total of 8 minutes. We recommend a 3-minute pitch followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.
- Judging Criteria: Judges evaluate pitches based on criteria such as innovation, market potential, business model, team capability, and financial viability.
Judging and Scoring
- Evaluation: A Judging rubrik will be utilized. Judging scores will account for 75% of the score. An audience vote will account for the remaining 25% of the total score.
Pitch Deck Help?
Are you a California startup developing a device, therapy, or diagnostic?
You may be eligible for 16 hours of complimentary Pitch Deck Consulting.
Agenda
12:00 PM EST
Investor Check-in / Networking
12:30 - 1:30 PM EST
Investor Luncheon (Accredited Investors Only)
1:30 PM EST
Doors Open, Check-in and Networking
2:30 - 3:00 PM EST
Welcome Remarks
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM EST
Investor/Expert Roundtable Discussions
- Table Host: Eric C. Ulchaker, MS, MFin
- Title: “Structuring Your Capital Raise”
- Description: Understanding financing instruments like convertible notes, SAFEs, and warrants — and how they convert in a priced round. Bringing in key opinion leaders (KOLs) as early investors can also be a strategic advantage.
- Table Host: Ralph Morales III
- Title: Beyond the Buzz: What Makes AI Truly Useful in Women’s Health?
- Description: A discussion on AI’s real impact in women’s health—what works, what doesn’t, and how success is measured beyond the hype.
- Table Host: Ameen Shallal
- Title: Career Development and the Role of Higher Education
- Description: Why are so many young professionals unemployed or underemployed but more “educated” than ever before? Where is higher education going wrong and what is the best path forward to equip our next generation of leaders to be successful?
4:30 PM EST
Networking
5:00 - 6:00 PM EST
"Why Investing in Women’s Health is Smart Business"
Moderator:
- Leah Villegas, MP of Aquillius Ventures
Panelist:
- Eric Ulchaker, MP of Serial Stage Venture Partners
- Anshuman Sharma, Venture Partner of Vectors Capital
- Greg Geehan, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of ScaleUp Labs
- Kathleen Snyder, Senior Counsel of Husch Blackwell
6:15 PM - 8:00 PM EST
Startup Showcase
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST
Concluding Remarks, Happy Hour, and Networking
Prizes
- $20k in office/lab space
- Digital Marketing and Branding Services (worth $5,000)
- $25k custom UX design package from the largest femtech incubator in the US
- Exploratory biostatistics package: 3 reports
- Membership to Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
- Regulatory kit and Regulatory strategy consulting (Medical Device only)
- $5,000 Legal fees
- Two months campaign on startup program
- 3-day ticket to the upcoming 2025 RESI Conference
- Contingent Permanent Placement ($5,000 off); Retained Search services ($5,000 off)
- $5,000 of tax services
Learn from Subject Matter Experts

Leah Villegas
Managing Partner, Aquillius Ventures
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.

Eric C. Ulchaker, MS, MFin
Managing Partner, Serial Stage Venture Partners
Eric C. Ulchaker brings over a decade of entrepreneurial experience, including more than two years in venture capital, with a proven track record of successful ventures. He previously served as Fund Manager for the Pit Road Fund, a $23 million pre-seed and seed-stage venture fund affiliated with the University of Notre Dame, and played a key role in raising the 1842 Fund – a partnership between High Alpha Innovation and the University of Notre Dame – where he led diligence efforts following the fund’s initial $17.5 million close. Eric is currently a Managing Partner at Serial Stage Venture Partners (SSVP), a Cleveland-based, healthcare-focused investor network with over 150 members. He is also an active angel investor. Passionate about MedTech, BioTech, and HealthTech, Eric has supported startups such as Pulmonary Apps, Apportis, and Million Marker, a Y Combinator-backed company.

Ralph Morales III
Managing Director at Shokunin Ventures
Ralph Morales III is an accomplished leader in the wearables and health tech space, with over 15 years of experience driving innovation and market growth. He has held pivotal roles at companies like Oura, where he led the development of healthcare solutions that generated significant revenue and expanded digital health capabilities. Ralph is a solution advocate for integrating digital biomarkers and real-time health insights to improve therapeutic outcomes and advance health span.

Anshuman Sharma
Venture Partner, Venture Capital
Anshuman Sharma, brings over 20 years of operator and investor experience. He started his career in R&D at Medtronic commercializing best-in-class implantable devices, including the very first DBS device. His operator experience spans early stage startups across med devices and digital health. Having been part of five founding teams, with three exits (Klio, Gecko, and iVizz) he has successfully raised multiple rounds of capital for early stage ventures from angels, UHNI, and institutional VC. As an investor he's part of CVC(BestBuy), angel/syndicate and institutional venture capital firms (MBx and Vectors). In addition to that he has held senior leadership roles at Transoma Medical, Biofourmis and at the CMS. He has an MPH from Harvard, MSEE from UC Berkeley and BSEE from Georgia Tech.
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Greg Geehan
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Scale Up Labs
Greg is an AI venture studio thought leader, entrepreneur, and international networker, bringing entrepreneurs, executives and investors together from across the globe. He is a founder and partner of ScaleUp Labs, a pioneering applied AI venture studio and international accelerator. Greg is an early-stage technology startup founder, investor, advisor and operator, with a focus on digital health and international startups. Greg has been engaged in the US and international startup ecosystems for many years. In addition to his role at ScaleUp Labs, Greg has co-founded several other initiatives aimed at fostering startup ecosystems globally. He is a Co-Founder and Partner at AccelHUB Venture Partners, a company that supports the scaling of international technology startups. He also co-founded ScaleUp LatAm, an organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship in Latin America, and Accelerate Italy, which aims to boost Italian startups.

Ameen Shallal
Head of Placement, EGIS Careers
Ameen Shallal is the Head of Placement at EGIS Careers, a multi-service recruiting agency that connects early-career talent to internships and experienced candidates into full-time roles in high finance and consulting while providing coaching and mentorship to help them grow into the next generation of industry leaders. Over the last 15 years, Ameen has placed over 5,000 professionals in internships and full-time positions in industries such as venture capital, investment banking, private equity and management consulting across the United States.

Kathleen Snyder
Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell
Kathleen Snyder is a senior counsel at Husch Blackwell where she runs the firm’s AI in Healthcare Working Group. Based in Boston, Kathleen practices at the intersection of healthcare and technology, providing clients with practical legal advice on AI Governance, strategic technology and commercial contracts, data strategies, intellectual property, and regulatory interpretation. With 20+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, Kathleen has an intrinsic understanding of the healthcare landscape. Her technology-focused transactional practice, coupled with her regulatory experience, gives her a unique perspective that allows her to provide holistic legal advice to clients.
MC/MODERATOR
STARTUP SHOWCASE



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JUDGES

Eric C. Ulchaker, MS, MFin
Managing Partner, Serial Stage Venture Partners
Eric C. Ulchaker brings over a decade of entrepreneurial experience, including more than two years in venture capital, with a proven track record of successful ventures. He previously served as Fund Manager for the Pit Road Fund, a $23 million pre-seed and seed-stage venture fund affiliated with the University of Notre Dame, and played a key role in raising the 1842 Fund – a partnership between High Alpha Innovation and the University of Notre Dame – where he led diligence efforts following the fund’s initial $17.5 million close. Eric is currently a Managing Partner at Serial Stage Venture Partners (SSVP), a Cleveland-based, healthcare-focused investor network with over 150 members. He is also an active angel investor. Passionate about MedTech, BioTech, and HealthTech, Eric has supported startups such as Pulmonary Apps, Apportis, and Million Marker, a Y Combinator-backed company.

Jay DeSantis
Strategic Partner, Apex Ascension
Jay DeSantis is a visionary leader in venture capital and private equity, known for backing transformative companies like SpaceX, Lyft, Slack, LinkedIn (acquired by Microsoft), Anthropic, and 23andMe. He also serves as a trusted CFO and venture partner to leading family offices and investment funds.

Ben Stokes
Founding Partner, Chasing Rainbows
Meet Ben Stokes - the VC rebel who's flipping the entire investment game on its head. As founding partner of Chasing Rainbows, he's not just writing checks - he's rewriting the rules of who gets funded in this game. And holy shit, is he making waves... White House roundtables, SXSW mainstage appearances, and enough "40 Under 40" titles to fill a trophy room. Fast Company even named his fund one of their Top Impact Funds of 2024. But here's what makes Ben different: While most VCs are obsessed with "pattern matching" the same old founders, pattern matching means you're missing a lot... great founders are often overlooked and underestimated. And Ben's proving that backing these underrepresented founders isn't just right - it's damn smart business. This is PrideNomad Unleashed with Ben Stokes - where venture capital meets radical inclusion, and every check written is another crack in that glass ceiling.

Blair Heavey
Founder, Heavey Advisors
Blair Heavey is the founder of Heavey Advisors, a strategic advisory firm. He enjoys working with CEOs, leadership teams, and Boards to improve team alignment, go-to-market strategies and product-market fit. Blair has worked with 25+ companies across multiple industries as either a leader or advisor. While at these companies his responsibilities included building aligned and focused teams; creating and growing sales and marketing teams; increasing revenue streams; and creating successful business models. His results: multiple IPO’s, mergers and acquisitions, and growth investment rounds at increasing valuations

Stamatis N. Astra
Co-founder, Intelligent Relations
Co-Founder at Intelligent Relations, a SaaS PR firm leveraging AI to build a broader and smarter set of relationships. Specifically skilled in taking startup projects and products from zero to exit. I'm a strong entrepreneurship professional with an MBA, MS-Communications, BA-Economics focused in Business, Economics, and Communications from Boston University. Radio host and father of 2 on my free time

Danielle C. Tarraf, PhD
Senior Principal, Flagship Pioneering
Danielle C. Tarraf is a Senior Principal at Flagship Pioneering where she is responsible for originating and growing new companies leveraging artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. Previously at McKinsey she co-led the GenAI for private investors service line in North America, helping private equity and infrastructure investors position for disruptive technological trends around AI. In her prior experience as a venture investor, Danielle focused on Seed-Series D startups in technology, software, digital infrastructure & data centers, and healthcare. While at the RAND Corporation she led a congressionally mandated assessment of the Department of Defense’s posture in Artificial Intelligence as well as various strategy studies around autonomy and emerging technologies. Danielle started her career in academia as an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Johns Hopkins University. She holds a PhD and SM in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, where her doctoral work was in the area of control theory.

Anshuman Sharma
Venture Partner, Vectors Capital
Anshuman Sharma, brings over 20 years of operator and investor experience. He started his career in R&D atMedtronic commercializing best-in-class implantable devices, including the very first DBS device. His operator experience spans early stage startups across med devices and digital health. Having been part of five founding teams, with three exits (Klio, Gecko, and iVizz) he has successfully raised multiple rounds of capital for early stage ventures from angels, UHNI, and institutional VC. As an investor he's part of CVC(BestBuy), angel/syndicate and institutional venture capital firms (MBx and Vectors). In addition to that he has held senior leadership roles at Transoma Medical, Biofourmis and at the CMS. He has an MPH from Harvard, MSEE from UC Berkeley and BSEE from Georgia Tech.
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Greg Geehan
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, ScaleUp Labs
Greg is an AI venture studio thought leader, entrepreneur, and international networker, bringing entrepreneurs, executives and investors together from across the globe. He is a founder and partner of ScaleUp Labs, a pioneering applied AI venture studio and international accelerator. Greg is an early-stage technology startup founder, investor, advisor and operator, with a focus on digital health and international startups. Greg has been engaged in the US and international startup ecosystems for many years. In addition to his role at ScaleUp Labs, Greg has co-founded several other initiatives aimed at fostering startup ecosystems globally. He is a Co-Founder and Partner at AccelHUB Venture Partners, a company that supports the scaling of international technology startups. He also co-founded ScaleUp LatAm, an organization focused on promoting entrepreneurship in Latin America, and Accelerate Italy, which aims to boost Italian startups.

Kathleen Snyder
Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell
Kathleen Snyder is a senior counsel at Husch Blackwell where she runs the firm’s AI in Healthcare Working Group. Based in Boston, Kathleen practices at the intersection of healthcare and technology, providing clients with practical legal advice on AI Governance, strategic technology and commercial contracts, data strategies, intellectual property, and regulatory interpretation. With 20+ years of experience in the healthcare industry, Kathleen has an intrinsic understanding of the healthcare landscape. Her technology-focused transactional practice, coupled with her regulatory experience, gives her a unique perspective that allows her to provide holistic legal advice to clients.

Anderson Wang
BCIC Advisor
Anderson Wang is an entrepreneurial investor in biotech industry over 10 years. With a strong background in investment and business operation, he has played a pivotal role in shaping and growing innovative ventures. As the co-founder and CFO of Purinomia Biotech, a first-in-class biotech company in Boston, Anderson led the growth of the products advanced from conception, through antibody discovery and optimization, GMP manufacturing, and IND approvals to first-in-human dosing in just under 2 years, and the drug was expanded to cancer and autoimmune disease programs in multiple global sites. His previous roles in investment, consulting, and corporate finance have equipped him with the expertise to support biotech startups and established companies in achieving sustainable growth.
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Sponsors




Startup Market
Catalyst Capital Symposia
Activating Startups
This monthly forum provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights into emerging sectors and disruptive technologies that have the potential to revolutionize human health, the environment, and society.
Through engaging discussions, informative panels, and interactive workshops, aspiring and seasoned entrepreneurs and investors can learn about essential concepts, strategies, and best practices directly from industry experts.
By engaging the venture and startup ecosystem, the symposia encourages investors to be activists and empower startups with cutting-edge technology.
Investing in Startups
Join the ranks of investor-activists who not only provide financial backing but also lend their expertise, networks, and influence to nurture startups, catalyzing a collective effort towards a brighter, more innovative future.
Startups: Apply to Pitch
Pitch your startup to an audience of industry experts, colleagues, and seasoned investors to gain valuable insights and feedback, forge strategic partnerships and connections, secure vital funding for your pioneering project, and elevate your startup to the next level!
Apply to pitch at one of the upcoming symposiums.
Connecting with Potential Customers
Sponsorship at Catalyst Capital Symposia provides a range of advantages, such as heightened brand visibility, lead generation, networking opportunities, thought leadership, and early access to emerging technologies.
To explore the ways in which your company can benefit from sponsoring our event, reach out to us for more information.