Jen and Mike sit down with Dr. Suman Rao, Principal at Lumira Ventures, to discuss her path from academic science to healthcare venture capital and why she believes the best investors lead with mission before money.

Rao shares Lumira’s approach to investing beyond traditional biotech hubs, the firm’s sidecar fund model with partners like Merck and the Terry Fox Foundation, and the story behind Histosonics, a Midwest medtech company that grew into a $2.25B exit and helped shape Lumira’s next investment thesis. She also offers candid advice for aspiring VCs: don’t follow the prescribed path. Build your own.