Innovators Summit - Fall 2025 Agenda - Summit Day 1

Fall 2025 Innovators Summit – Day 1 (Main)

Driving Innovation, Investment, & Market Transformation in Health Tech

9:15 AM

From Vision to Validation: Framing the Next Three Days of Digital Health Transformation

An opening address to set the tone for the summit—exploring how today’s health tech innovators are moving from idea to impact through scalable solutions, funding innovation, and rigorous evidence generation.

Gil Bashe, Chair, Global Health and Purpose, FINN Partners

TRACK

Startup Growth, Scaling & Alternative Funding

9:35 AM

Scaling Smarter in Digital Health: Strategies to Accelerate Sustainable Growth in a Regulated Industry

Explore actionable frameworks, case studies, and founder insights on building infrastructure, teams, and go-to-market strategies that position digital health startups for real-world impact.

Dr. Jerrold Jackson, Director, Partner Enablement, Mayo Clinic

9:55 AM

Rethinking Capital for Health Tech: Unlocking Creative, Non-Dilutive, and Alternative Funding Pathways

Go beyond traditional venture capital and learn how digital health entrepreneurs can leverage grants, partnerships, pilot programs, and government-backed funding while preserving equity and autonomy.

Kyle Kaneicki, Vice President of Life Sciences and Healthcare, NYCEDC

10:15 AM

Scaling Digital Health Startups: Biggest Wins, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned

Go beyond traditional venture capital and learn how digital health entrepreneurs can leverage grants, partnerships, pilot programs, and government-backed funding while preserving equity and autonomy.

Sally Frank, Global Lead – Health & Life Sciences | Microsoft for Startups, Microsoft

10:35

Networking BREAK

TRACK

Investment & Funding Landscape

11:00 AM

Going Global and Staying Compliant: Building, Securing, and Sustaining Critical Resources for Startups

Scaling a startup internationally requires more than just innovative products—it demands strategic PR and marketing approaches that build trust, navigate diverse regulations, and secure vital partnerships. This session explores how startups can effectively communicate compliance, attract key resources, and sustain growth while expanding into new global markets.

Fern Lazar, Managing Partner, Global Health Practice Leader, FINN Partners

David Carey, Senior Partner, FINN Partners

11:15 AM

2025 and Beyond: Understanding Where the Smart Money Is Going in Digital Health

Get an inside look at the top sectors, technologies, and business models attracting investment—from virtual care and AI-driven diagnostics to women’s health, chronic care, and value-based innovation.

Laurent van Lerberghe, Founder & CEO, Ballas Invest

11:40 AM

Inside the Investor Mindset: What Matters Most When Evaluating Digital Health Startups

Unpack what top investors are really looking for—from strong teams and defensible IP to validated outcomes and a clear path to reimbursement—and how to position your startup accordingly.

Ruth Segall, Associate, WINDHAM Capital Partners

12:00 PM

Capital Strategy for Health Tech Founders: Mapping Your Funding Journey from Seed to Series C and Beyond

Learn how to build a capital stack that aligns with your growth stage, including timing your rounds, blending funding sources, and staying investor-ready at every turn.

Jacqueline Kapur, Chief Financial Officer, Health2047

12:20 PM

From Deals to Decisions: A Candid Investor Discussion on What Closes a Digital Health Investment

Join a fireside-style discussion with VCs and strategic funders on how they evaluate deals, structure partnerships, and make final funding decisions in today’s evolving health tech ecosystem.

Erin Niehaus, Partner, DigitalDx Ventures

12:30 PM

LUNCH

TRACK

Startup Showcases & Live Demos

1:30 PM

The Next Wave of Digital Health: Spotlighting Startups Transforming the Future of Care

Meet the founders behind cutting-edge digital health solutions—from AI-powered platforms and virtual care tools to remote monitoring and patient-centered apps.

Ramdev Regulapati, Co- Founder & CEO, MyPhysicianPlan

Gaurav Gupta, COO, MyPhysicianPlan

1:50 PM

From Concept to Clinic: Live Demonstrations of Digital Health Tools Designed to Improve Outcomes

See breakthrough innovations in action with live product demos showcasing how these startups are solving real-world challenges in clinical settings and at-home care.

Jamie Wisser, CEO, Actual Healthcare Solutions

2:10 PM

Why Most Healthcare Pilots Fail—and How to Break Through to System-Wide Adoption

Most healthcare pilots stall before reaching system-wide adoption. This session offers hard-won lessons and real-world strategies drawn from over 500 hospital deployments and FDA-cleared AI tools. Learn how to navigate regulatory, cultural, and security hurdles using actionable frameworks, assess organizational readiness, measure ROI, and scale solutions equitably. With insights tailored for executives, clinicians, and innovators alike, we’ll explore what works, what doesn’t—and why—while keeping health equity, clinical outcomes, and sustainability at the core.

Dr. Joshua Tamayo-Sarver, MD, Vice President of Innovation at Vituity & Inflect Health

2:30 PM

NETWORKING BREAK

TRACK

Innovation & Evidence Generation

3:30 PM

The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Digital Health and Pharma

From rapid growth and billion-dollar valuations to widespread disillusionment, the digital health and pharma sectors have weathered a turbulent journey. This session unpacks the key drivers of the initial boom, the causes of the decline, and the critical innovations and mindsets fueling a potential rebirth.

Jim Parshall, Executive Director – Drug Delivery R&D, Eli Lilly & Company

3:40 PM

What’s Next for Digital Health & Pharma? Navigating the Rebuild

With lessons learned from failed pilots and overextended platforms, pharma leaders are reevaluating how digital can meaningfully drive value—from drug discovery to patient engagement. In this panel, top decision-makers and innovators discuss the practical steps being taken to integrate digital more effectively across the enterprise, and what’s needed to avoid past pitfalls.

Jim Parshall, Executive Director – Drug Delivery R&D, Eli Lilly & Company

Amy West, Principal, Advisory Services & Chair Women’s Health Tech Initiative, HITLAB

4:00 PM

From Data to Impact: Translating Insights into Actionable Evidence for Growth and Adoption

Learn how to turn real-world evidence, AI-derived insights, and patient-reported outcomes into the kind of validation that moves the needle on funding, partnerships, and scalability.

John Glaser, Program Director, Global Health Care Leaders, Harvard Medical School

4:30PM

Day 1 Wrap-Up: Top Insights, Big Questions, and What to Expect Tomorrow

A brief recap of the day’s most powerful takeaways across funding, growth, and validation—plus a preview of Day 2’s agenda and how to stay engaged during networking and evening events.

Gil Bashe, Chair, Global Health and Purpose, FINN Partners