We are thrilled to have with us Divya Yerraguntla, a distinguished leader in the pharmaceutical industry with over 25 years of experience. Divya has held pivotal roles in major firms like Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk, and she currently serves as Senior Vice President at Syneos Health, where she oversees portfolio and asset strategy for biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Throughout her career, Divya has successfully launched over 30 products globally and has driven substantial revenue growth through her expertise in strategy, commercialization, and business development. She is also a dedicated mentor, a seasoned public speaker, and the host of the popular 'Woman to Woman' podcast, which supports women professionals in their careers.

Join us as we delve into Divya's incredible journey, her insights on the evolving health sector, and her advice for innovators and investors looking to make an impact.

Arun suffered from chronic back pain that rendered him nearly immobile for years. Doctors told him he wouldn't get better unless through surgery. Through a self-guided process of rewiring brain-body pathways, he was able to recover within a few weeks.He's since founded Menda Health, a virtual specialty clinic for treating chronic pain. Menda offers insurance-covered pain therapy, with 3x better outcomes than usual care alone. The company partners with large health systems at no cost to improve outcomes and reduce opioid risk for this population.Healing begins with a connection to self and others. In his free time, he plays music in a band, spends time outdoors, and meditates daily.

We are excited to have Andrew Haughian, General Partner at Pangaea Ventures, join us. Since joining Pangaea in 2006, Andrew has become a leading expert in helping early-stage companies navigate growth, build high-performance teams, and optimize financing strategies. He also spearheads Pangaea's impact strategy, ensuring that their investments make a meaningful difference in the world.

Andrew works closely with innovative companies like Aspect Biosystems, CarbonCure Technologies, ESS Inc., Prime Roots, and Hinalea Imaging. With a background in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the University of British Columbia, Andrew combines technical expertise with strategic acumen. When he's not investing, you can find him racing his road bike in the mountains of Europe or competing in the local beer league racing scene.

Join us as we explore Andrew’s journey, his approach to impact investing, and his vision for the future of hard tech solutions.

In today's episode of The Business of HLTH podcast, we are joined by Lauren Liutong Li, a seasoned healthcare leader and investor with a keen eye for innovation. As an Angel Investor and Startup Advisor with the Harvard Business School Alumni Angels Association and a Venture Capital Advisor at Rigel Capital Ventures in China, Lauren has been instrumental in shaping the healthcare innovation landscape. With a strong background in life sciences and technology, Lauren has advised on several investments, witnessing impressive exits and IPOs. Her expertise spans digital innovation, AI applications in healthcare, digital medicine, and digital therapeutics.

We're joined by Michael Brotherton, Managing Partner at Dragonfly 44 Capital, a firm that specializes in the burgeoning fields of neuropsychiatry and psychedelic industries.  Dragonfly 44 Capital supports companies at the cutting edge of health technology, aiming to revolutionize mental health and wellness.

Today on The Business of HLTH podcast, we are joined by Ziad Henry Moukheiber, President and CEO of Boston Harbor Angels, a group of proven business leaders dedicated to investing in high-growth, early-stage companies. Ziad is also the Managing Partner at EQX Fund LLC, an angel and early-stage investment fund based in Boston, Massachusetts, focusing on Life Sciences and IT. With over two decades of experience in building scalable organizations and advising companies, Ziad brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the world of angel investing. He founded SilverSword in 1998, building it into a leading IT consulting company before its acquisition in 2015. Ziad's passion for technology and entrepreneurship is evident in his active involvement as an angel investor and board member for various businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Today’s guest is Aaron Ray, Partner at 5 Horizons Capital & Cantheon Capital

Aaron has over 20 years’ experience in management, business and leadership development, talent acquisition, consulting, and investing, with extensive experience in corporate growth, strategy, and operational matters. Prior to his previous role as Managing Partner at Proclinical Executive, Aaron was the CEO, Chairman and Co-founder of STM Canna. Before STM, he served as an Operating Partner for Greenway Capital Markets and Transition Capital Partners, responsible for evaluating deals, conducting due diligence, raising capital, and assessing management talent. He worked closely with portfolio management teams on strategic and operational plans, including serving as CEO for a specialty insurance portfolio company in South Texas. 

We are delighted to welcome Rachna Dayal, Founder and Managing Partner at Sugati Ventures. Rachna is an accomplished outcomes-based leader with a diverse background spanning venture capital, healthcare marketing, supply chain, disruptive technology management, external manufacturing, and R&D. Her career has taken her across the globe, working with notable companies such as Philips, Handshake Solutions, and Johnson & Johnson. At Sugati Ventures, Rachna leads an early-stage VC fund focused on investing in medical devices and health tech platforms that address significant unmet needs in healthcare. With her extensive experience and passion for driving innovation, Rachna is committed to supporting entrepreneurs who are developing groundbreaking solutions to improve patient care and outcomes.

We are privileged to have Alice Zheng, MD, MBA, MPH  Principal at RH Capital, as our guest. Alice is a true champion for women's health, dedicating her career to improving lives through her work in global health, clinical medicine, and the private sector. At RH Capital, Alice leads investments in innovative women's health companies across life sciences, digital health, and consumer health. Her passion for addressing underserved women's issues has taken her from rural African villages to her current role as a steering committee member for multiple women's health innovation forums. With an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MD and MPH from the University of Michigan, Alice brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Aleksey is a strategic Chief Financial Officer to life sciences and medical technology companies, with an impressive background in venture investing and M&A. He has completed over 70 fundraising and M&A transactions, blending his deal-making expertise with operating CFO skills to manage financial, investor relations, and administrative functions for life sciences organizations. Aleksey is the founder of Tialma, a New York-based financial consulting firm that delivers bespoke strategic CFO solutions to life sciences companies, helping them with strategic planning and finance operations to maximize shareholder value.