WIB-Chicago

?? We're excited to introduce Anna Lisa Somera, MS, MBA, MPH as a judge for our 10th Annual StartUp Challenge! Ms. Somera made history as the first female winner of MedTech Innovator, the world’s largest MedTech competition, triumphing over 1,000+ companies worldwide! ?? ?? Ms. Somera brings over 20 years of experience working with startups across various fields, including biomedical research, venture capital, technology transfer, operations, regulatory affairs, quality management systems, and grant consulting. She has successfully led teams through clinical trial launches, FDA approvals, quality certifications, and financing, securing over $70M for startups to date. ?? ?? She is the CEO of Rhaeos, Inc., where she started as employee #1 and expanded the team to 20 people. Rhaeos is a VC-backed, clinical-stage medical device company developing wearable flow monitoring devices, with technology stemming from the John Rogers Lab at Northwestern University. Their groundbreaking device, FlowSense, is a non-invasive tool that detects cerebrospinal fluid in shunted hydrocephalus patients. So far, FlowSense has been used on 300+ patients and was the focus of a nine-center pivotal study from UCSF to Duke. ?? ???? Ms. Somera has served as a mentor at Chain Reaction Innovations at Argonne National Labs, The Polsky Exchange at the University of Chicago, MATTER Chicago, mHUB, INVO at Northwestern University, and the FAST Center (UIUC). She also serves as a Principal Investigator on NIH and NSF-funded small business grants, where she earned a perfect score on a Phase IIB application. Additionally, she is a board member of Women In Bio Chicago. ?? ? ?? Register now for the StartUp Challenge, and witness the future of innovation unfold: https://lnkd.in/gETTHMQf ?? #WomenInLeadership #MedTech #Innovation #WomenInSTEM #Entrepreneurship

?? Community Event Alert!??? The 3rd Annual RFU Biomedical Innovation Day is coming up in less than a week! This event, hosted by our colleagues at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, will dive into cutting-edge research in genetic diseases, with both in-person and virtual options available. Hear from an amazing lineup of experts, including our very own Dimitra Georganopoulou, PhD (Qral Ventures). ?? Date: Tuesday, Sept 17, 2024 ?? Register here:?https://lnkd.in/dQ9ap2Ds A fantastic opportunity to connect with leaders in biomedical innovation—don’t miss it! #Chicagoland #Biomedicine #Innovation #Research

??? Did you know that only 12% of decision-makers in venture capital are women? That’s why WIB has been hosting events throughout the year to empower and inform women about breaking into VC and making their mark. And we are thrilled to announce our next judge for the Startup Challenge— Dana Sun, MBA! ?????? ?? Dana Sun is a Principal at the Laerdal Million Lives Fund, an early stage healthcare venture capital firm that invests in digital health and medical device companies that are maximizing life-saving potential. The Million Lives Fund is supported by the Laerdal group, a global organization dedicated to the mission of Helping Save Lives. Previously, Dana was a health tech investor at OCA Ventures, strategic finance associate at Genentech, and healthcare consultant at Accenture. ? ??Don’t miss Dana's insights at this year's Startup Challenge! Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gETTHMQf ?? #venturecapital #digitalhealth #healthcarestartups #biotechstartups #medtechstartups

WIB-Chicago is elated to WELCOME our newest members that joined us during the month of August! ?? Rebecca Alemani, Morgann MacDonald, Samantha Gantz, Micah Tepora, Christin Gerlach, Caroline Szujewski, Maya Zafrir, PhD, Rachel Chudoba, PhD, Tran Van Anh Nguyen, Chesta Jain, Amy Berger, Rebecca Cooley, Meenakshi Datta, Emily McFadden, PhD We cannot wait to see you all at our upcoming events! ?? Interested in joining our dynamic Women In Bio - Engage. Educate. Empower. community? Click on the link to learn more ? https://lnkd.in/eSDv3Tsd #WomenInSTEM #WeAreSTEMmers #Chicagoland #EmpoweringWomen

?? Looking to perfect your resume and ace your next interview? Check out the highlights from our recent MAPS event led by the talented speaker, Dr. Afrida Rahman-Enyart. ?? ?? The event covered resume tips and interview strategies, and the actionable advice was applicable to anyone looking to sharpen their job search and interview skills. For full event details and key takeaways, click here: https://lnkd.in/gn9tmhit. ?? ? WIB-Chicago gratefully acknowledges Proteintech Group, and Lynnea Wolfe and Austin Marshall for providing logistical support. Our special thanks goes out to Michael Marrion and @Dareona Franklin from Cresa Chicago for hosting us at their beautiful office space. ? ? #CareerGrowth #ResumeTips #InterviewSkills #Networking #MAPS #ProfessionalDevelopment

?????? Introducing our 10th Annual StartUp Challenge Judges! ?????? ?? Meet: Meesha Dogan, PhD ?? ?? Meesha Dogan is the CEO, Co-Founder, and Director of Cardio Diagnostics, an AI-driven precision cardiovascular medicine company based in Chicago. Over the last 13 years, she has bridged her work in artificial intelligence, epigenetics and genetics with building, commercializing and scaling next-generation DNA-based cardiovascular tests that can be deployed across the world to better prevent, detect and manage cardiovascular disease. ? ?? The novel AI and machine learning-driven integrated genetic-epigenetic approaches that Meesha pioneered during her graduate program form the backbone of Cardio Diagnostics' technology and solutions. She is an inventor of seven granted patents and has several pending patents worldwide for the technology behind Cardio Diagnostics.? ? ?? Leading the company since its founding in 2017 from its early stages to commercialization, Meesha achieved a significant milestone with the 2022 Nasdaq listing of Cardio Diagnostics (NASDAQ:CDIO) and obtained a nationwide Vizient Breakthrough Innovation Contract in 2024, the only epigenetic-genetic technology to receive a Breakthrough Innovation Contract from the nation's largest GPO.? ? ??Meesha holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering and BSE/MS degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Iowa. Her dynamic leadership and innovative vision continue to drive Cardio Diagnostics to the forefront of cardiovascular diagnostics, making heart disease prevention, detection, and management more accessible, personalized, and precise. The impact of her scalable and virtual cardiovascular tests will fill a critical and growing unmet clinical need. ? ?? Her passion for Cardio Diagnostics is deeply personal and stems from two-generations of heart disease in her own family. She is married to her college sweetheart and resides in Chicago with their two dogs, Sophie and Teddy. ?? Stay tuned to learn more about our remarkable judges! ?? ?? Interested in attending the event? Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gETTHMQf #StartUp #Pitchcompetition #healthcarestartups #biotechstartups #medtechstartups

?????? Introducing our 10th Annual StartUp Challenge Judges! ?????? ?? Meet: Ashley S. H. Moy ?? ?? Ashley S. H. Moy cofounded Cast21 after leading international, awarding-winning teams to develop medical devices and healthcare biologics. Ashley has been invited by government bodies, healthcare Fortune 500 companies, and globally-acclaimed publications to contribute to their forums, panels, and articles on healthcare and innovation around the world. She has also been a guest lecturer for graduate and undergraduate courses on business and entrepreneurship. When she’s not working, Ashley enjoys good food, live music, and golf. ?? ?? Stay tuned to learn more about our esteemed judges! ?? ?? Interested in attending the event? Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gETTHMQf #StartUp #Pitchcompetition #healthcarestartups #biotechstartups #medtechstartups

???Last Call for Applications!??? Tomorrow (8/23) is the final day to apply for the WIB-Chicago StartUp Challenge! Don’t miss your chance to showcase your innovative ideas and join a community of trailblazing entrepreneurs. A special shoutout to Melody Roberts, CEO and co-founder of Liv Labs (YC S21), the 2020 StartUp Challenge winner. Her journey is an inspiration, and we’re thrilled to have her share some words of wisdom with us. Here’s what she had to say about giving back: "In the near future, when Liv Labs is generating revenue, growing, and building a name for itself, I very much hope that I’ll have the opportunity to join the sponsors of the Women in Bio [Chicago] Startup Challenge and be part of helping other women get the opportunities that I’ve had." Don’t wait—apply today and be part of something amazing! ?? We’re also calling out to sponsors who are passionate about supporting groundbreaking startups and empowering the next generation of women leaders. ?? Connect with us for sponsorship opportunities at [email protected] ?? Click here to apply for the StartUp Challenge: https://lnkd.in/gCTJSjgz ?? Interested in attending the event? Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gETTHMQf #Chicagolandevents #StartUp #Pitchcompetition #healthcarestartups #biotechstartups #medtechstartups #entrepreneurs

?? We've extended the application deadline for the WIB-Chicago Startup Challenge! ?? We know how much hard work goes into preparing a stellar application, so the application deadline for our 10th Annual Startup Challenge has been extended to Friday, August 23, 5PM CT! This is your chance to join a legacy of 47 innovative companies, pitch your groundbreaking ideas, and compete for a cash prize. Don't miss this opportunity to make your mark. ?? https://bit.ly/wibsup10 #StartupChallenge #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #PitchCompetition

Join us in supporting the next wave of innovation! We’re seeking sponsors for WIB-Chicago’s 10th Annual Startup Challenge, where Chicago’s top women-led startups will pitch their groundbreaking ideas. Your sponsorship can help empower these entrepreneurs and shape the future of Life Sciences. Contact?[email protected]?to get in touch with our team!