Episode 362 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Alice Pomponio, Managing Director at BrightEdge, the investing arm of the American Cancer Society.

Venture capital and private equity investors are all working on meaningful initiatives in terms of building great companies with the hope of gaining a meaningful return for investors.

However, the role that Alice plays in the world of investing into startups is different…

As the innovation, impact investment and venture capital arm of the American Cancer Society, BrightEdge propels groundbreaking patient-centric solutions by accelerating ACS’s mission to advance science, reduce disparities, and promote healthcare sustainability.

All of the investments from BrightEdge have a common goal and that is to fight for a world without cancer. On top of this incredibly important mission is how the firm operates where the financial returns are reinvested back into the fund or are returned to the American Cancer Society to build a diversified and sustainable source of funding for the organization.

In this podcast, we cover:

* The platform shift to AI and its potential impact on cancer research.

* Alice’s background and how cancer has affected her family, plus a walk through her career in the biotech & pharmaceutical industry.

* The details of the firm’s proprietary Cancer Impact Investment Framework.

* Sample portfolio companies and the overall impact that BrightEdge has made.

* How BrightEdge is helping to advance health equity and increase representation for underserved populations.

* And so much more.

Episode Sponsor:

As a longtime champion of the local startup ecosystem, Silicon Valley Bank supports innovative companies with the solutions and financing they need through every stage of growth. With more than 1,500 bankers and relationship advisors, and $42B in loans as of Q2 2024 – SVB delivers the right people, service and resources to support your entire financial journey. Learn more at SVB.com.