We've supported these startups pre-deployment because we believe in their team and approach:
Digital twin for brain surgery, real-time AI copilot building a live 3D map of the brain during the operation.
Founded by Jay Park, MD, Stanford neurosurgeon, alongside Rich Timm (18 years at J&J, 120+ patents) and Dr. Vivek Buch (Stanford neurosurgery).
Vaginal drug delivery device with FDA clearance, now partnering with Merck for their first in-woman trial.
Founded by Thang Vo-Ta (MIT, Oxford) and Lara Zibners, MD, MMEd, MBA. TIME Magazine "Best Invention of the Year," Fast Company "Most Innovative Company."
First saliva-based point-of-care lateral flow test for liver fibrosis triage. No blood draw, no imaging, results in minutes. Scoring 0.92 AUROC in validation against FIB-4's 0.74.
Founded by Jim Chen, MD, MPH, and Nodar Makharashvili, PhD, advised by Richard Sterling (FIB-4 inventor).
First reliable stage 1 ovarian cancer diagnostic, combining uterine lavage with an AI assay analyzing cancer mutations together with cell of origin.
Founded by Scott Kennedy (TwinStrand), Elena Cant (McKinsey, Takeda, Hospira), advised by Dr. Paul Speiser (inventor of uterine tubal lavage).
Companies we're excited about working with next:
Hardware sensors + AI, catching surgical site infections and post-op complications before they escalate. 4 active pilots, Mayo Clinic in co-development.
Founded by Kadambari Beelwar (Stanford Medicine, Kaiser Permanente, Penn) and Dr. Alexis Dang (Stanford, SF VA Health Care System).
Lab-grown copy of a patient's tumor, tests real drugs before treatment starts. AI-scored organoid model showing 0.98 correlation with patient outcomes. MD Anderson and Memorial Sloan Kettering amended clinical protocols to use the assay.
Founded by Abraham Lin, PhD (7 patents, 45+ publications in cancer research).
AI surgical platform using real-time video, device telemetry, robotic kinematics. Models catch risks twice as accurately as surgeons alone.
Founded by Mishaal Ali, MD (UCSF surgeon, prior robotic surgery platform) and Sam McKennoch, PhD (ML at Allen Inst. for AI), advised by Daichi Kitaguchi, MD/PhD (surgical AI, National Cancer Center Japan).
AI platform replacing manual clinical trial coordination for CROs and pharma sponsors, embedded directly in GCP-regulated workflows for real switching costs. Active partnership with Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society.
Founded by Liz Wells, led sales at 3 YC-backed health companies, advised by David B Ross, MD, PhD, former FDA.
Lauren M Taylor, Managing Partner
Creative Destruction Lab, Health Stream
Building with industry partners? Lauren mentors founders in CDL's Health Stream, helping them open doors with the partners who matter most.
Science Center, Capital Readiness Program
Sharpening your fundraising strategy? Lauren serves as Investor in Residence at Science Center, helping founders get ready for the raise.
NDVC Blog
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Non-Dilutive Capital
How a $10M fund can invest in 40 startups
