On the season finale of The Business of HLTH Podcast, host Natalie Dolphin sits down with Sara Jónsdóttir founder and CEO of Revel Cares — the first wearable underwear brand in Canada to receive medical recognition for its leak-proof technology.
Sara shares the story behind Revel’s creation, inspired by a frustrating moment during an internship, and how that personal experience fueled a mission to transform period care. From navigating the rigorous path to clinical validation to scaling a consumer product without compromising quality, Sara opens up about what it really takes to innovate in a space long overdue for disruption.
We cover:
What “medically recognized” means (and why it matters)
The product testing and documentation that set Revel apart
Fundraising as a female founder in femtech
Her vision for redefining dignity, comfort, and choice in period care
🎧 Listen now to hear how Sara is turning a moment of embarrassment into a movement for better care.
On this episode of the Business of HLTH Podcast, Kyle Dardashti, the founder and CEO of Healy, shares his personal health journey with Crohn's disease and discussed his transition from consumer tech to health tech, leading him to develop a clinical-grade AI platform that personalizes nutrition as medicine. He emphasized the importance of sustainable, root-cause solutions in health management and highlighted Healy's unique position as the only clinical-grade nutrition infrastructure on the market, designed to treat and manage various conditions through evidence-based nutrition protocols. Kyle also discussed his passion for empowering consumers through health data ownership and provided advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of starting with personal problems, conducting market analysis, and maintaining passion and determination.
Carrie Kozlowski, co-founder and CEO of Upfront by Health Catalyst, shares her journey from occupational therapist to health tech entrepreneur, highlighting her experience in various healthcare settings and her MBA studies where she met her co-founder. She discusses Upfront's mission to simplify healthcare through scalable technology solutions that focus on removing friction and improving patient outcomes, while emphasizing data-driven personalization and change management. Carrie reflects on her entrepreneurial experiences, including offering free communication services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and discusses how Upfront's recent acquisition by Health Catalyst has accelerated their roadmap and provided additional resources to enhance their products and client services.
In this episode, we sit down with Jasmine Smith, CEO of Rejuve.AI, to explore the launch of their groundbreaking platform focused on democratizing health data and unlocking longevity insights. Jasmine shares why personalized health is the future, and how more robust, diverse data is key to understanding individual responses to therapies.
We also dive into the systemic challenges of today’s healthcare landscape and the critical importance of upfront planning and organization in building impactful solutions. For those entering the health tech space with global aspirations, Jasmine offers practical advice: show up. Get involved in the right events and conferences to build authentic connections and learn from others on the same path.
A must-listen for founders, innovators, and anyone passionate about the future of personalized, data-driven healthcare.
Maria Gajda-Horowitz is the Founding Managing Partner of Kidron Capital, the first cross-border venture fund focused exclusively on women’s health, with a presence in both Tel Aviv and San Francisco. With a background in law and over 15 years of experience in deal-making and fund formation, Maria is building a bold new vision for how innovation in women’s health can deliver outsized returns—financially and clinically.
And joining her is Jeb Harris Gollin, a globally respected healthcare futurist and strategist with a decades-long career spanning Pfizer, Teva, and IBM. Today, he serves as Director of Pipeline Management at Kidron, where he brings his systems-level thinking and deep expertise in AI, data analytics, and regenerative medicine to the fund’s investment strategy.
Together, Maria and Jeb are challenging outdated assumptions about what women’s health really means, what kinds of technologies are ready for prime time, and why now is the moment for serious investors to pay attention.
Joining us from Essen, Germany is Paulina Jänsch, Founding Partner at Leanox Impact Capital, a VC fund laser-focused on health and climate innovation, with a deep commitment to impact and inclusion. She’s also been recognized among Europe’s Top 100 Most Influential Women in the VC and startup world, one of Germany’s Top 10 investors and was recently named Forbes 30 under 30 Europe.
Managing Director, 360 Social Impact Studios | Co-founder, Enough Ventures | VC Lab C17 | Neurodivergent Innovator | SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Awardee x2 (2024)
Joining us on today’s episode is Chandler Journey Lewis, a dynamic force at the intersection of technology, social innovation, and Industry 4.0. As the Managing Director of 360 Social Impact Studios and Co-founder of Enough Ventures, Chandler leads transformative work that spans across North America, Latin America, and the Global South—developing scalable strategies and AR/AI-powered solutions that drive equity in health care, workforce development, and inclusive education.
With a rich background in innovation management, venture building, and health technology, Chandler has collaborated with top-tier institutions like Harvard HealthLab Accelerator, AARP’s AgeTech Collaborative, and global health systems to build impact-driven ventures and inclusive innovation ecosystems. He’s also the co-founder of LifeLensAR, a groundbreaking initiative leveraging augmented reality and AI to revolutionize clinician workflows, reduce burnout, and enhance patient care access.
A two-time SBA Growth Accelerator Fund awardee, Chandler is a proud neurodivergent leader championing human-centered design and bold, inclusive innovation. His work is not only reshaping how we think about technology’s role in social change—but also creating a future where everyone can thrive.
Get ready for a powerful conversation about innovation, impact, and building with purpose
On today's episode, we are honoured to welcome Laurence Girard, CEO and Founder of Fruit Street and a venture capitalist at Healthcare Shares. Laurence has dedicated his career to addressing critical issues in public health, focusing on preventative healthcare, digital health, and telemedicine. His companies have been at the forefront of innovative solutions to combat lifestyle-related chronic conditions. Through Fruit Street, Laurence has pioneered telemedicine-based diabetes prevention programs and established new models for public health engagement. Additionally, as a VC, he supports early-stage healthcare ventures, helping drive impactful solutions in the health sector.
Valerie joined Five Seasons in April 2024 as a Senior Associate. While American by nature, she has spent time in France previously when attending INSEAD for her MBA and London as she previously worked in consumer growth investing at The Craftory, spearheading their women’s health vertical.
She began her career advising Fortune 500 retail and consumer companies through M&A transactions in New York and after spending two years at TPG, she pursued her MBA at INSEAD. There, she championed finance as a tool for positive change, heading the diligence team for the INSEAD Student Impact Fund.
Valerie’s journey to FSV is driven by her passion for consumer investing with a conscience. While she is enthusiastic about all things food, beverage, and nutrition, she is particularly interested in ensuring equal access in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and women’s health.
In her spare time, Valerie enjoys scuba diving around the world, finding new restaurants to add to her ever expanding Google Maps list, trying new fitness challenges with friends, and attempting to improve her French.
Luke focuses his practice on corporate and securities matters, transactions, and general corporate matters. He counsels companies of all sizes, from start-ups to public companies, in a variety of industries, including health care, artificial intelligence, technology, and life sciences.
Before joining Mintz, Luke worked on the Quebec Investment Team of a Canada-wide venture capital fund dedicated to investing in student-founded start-ups. He also researched the impact of artificial intelligence on access to justice at the Montreal-based Cyberjustice Laboratory. Upon completing his legal studies, he interned with Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Law Bureau, where he reviewed international investment treaties and advised on bilateral trade agreement negotiations.
During law school, Luke worked on a number of commercial transactions involving infrastructure, public-private partnerships, and start-up financing as a summer associate at major Canadian law firms. Additionally, Luke served as a judicial clerk at the Superior Court of Québec and as a legal intern with the US Library of Congress.
Prior to his legal studies, Luke conducted clinical research in thoracic surgery and respirology at Toronto General Hospital and McGill University Health Centre and coauthored several high-impact publications.
Stephanie Mouchbahani-Constance a venture capital investor at Kli Capital, the venture branch of a family office based in New York which invests in pre-seed and seed startups across all industries. She is the former CEO and co-founder of a consumer biotech startup which she co-founded while completing her PhD in Neurophysiology at McGill University. She successfully brought her product from the lab to market in 1 year and commercialized it across the US. Stephanie then coached healthcare and biotech startups at District 3 Innovation Center in their validation program before beginning her career in venture capital.
Richard Skaife is a Partner at The Conscious Fund ( an investor in Microdose and most of the well known companies in the psychedelic medicine space) and a Co Founding Partner at Longr a longevity platform company focused on access. He’s served as a partner in European tier 1 VC funds and as a CEO in a venture studio that launched Digipill ( a multi million downloaded mental health app ) and Pollen VC a mobile focused fintech.
Today, we’re excited to have a truly remarkable guest with us—Anarghya Vardhana, General Partner at Maveron.
Anarghya has an incredible track record in venture capital, focusing on consumer brands that are reshaping healthcare and wellness. Her portfolio includes investments in pioneering companies like Alife, Bend Health, Caraway Health, and Goodbill, all of which are making significant strides in mental health, women’s health, and healthcare platforms.
Before joining Maveron, Anarghya made a name for herself in the Bay Area tech scene with roles at Google, Medable, and several other startups. A Stanford graduate, she has also earned accolades such as Forbes '30 Under 30' and the Diversity Champion Award from Forbes and JP Morgan Chase.
In addition to her work as an investor, Anarghya is a passionate advocate for diversity in venture capital, a Kauffman Fellow, and an active participant in All Raise. We are thrilled to dive into her journey, explore the future of healthcare investment, and hear her insights on what it takes to build iconic consumer brands in the health and wellness space.
In this episode of Business of HLTH, we sit down with Robin Arnott, CEO of SoundSelf, and Dr. Sandeep Prakash, Chief Scientific Officer, to explore the future of digital therapeutics and their revolutionary approach to mental health care. SoundSelf is at the forefront of blending immersive technology with therapeutic practices, offering a unique platform that combines sound, light, and voice-driven biofeedback to help users achieve deep meditative states—often comparable to a psychedelic experience within just 15 minutes.
Robin shares his journey from the gaming industry to creating a digital platform that merges modern technology with the wisdom of ancient spiritual practices. Dr. Sandeep delves into the scientific foundations of SoundSelf, including how the technology utilizes biofeedback and neurostimulation to facilitate profound mental shifts, enhance neuroplasticity, and support therapies like ketamine-assisted sessions.
Together, they address the potential and challenges of integrating digital tools in a clinical setting, the role of digital therapeutics in expanding access to mental health care, and how SoundSelf's carefully designed experiences are making a difference for both patients and practitioners. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a tech enthusiast, or curious about the evolving field of mental health, this episode offers valuable insights into the intersection of technology and therapy.
Tune in to learn how SoundSelf is redefining what’s possible in the realm of mental wellness. For more information, visit soundself.com.
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.
