Episode 31 | Bhavana Mohanraj, PhD and Mike Dishowitz, PhD, PCI Ventures | Medtech in Philadelphia

In this episode, Bhavana, Mike and I discuss PCI Ventures, healthtech in the Philidelphia, advice for start-up companies and more.

Mike Dishowitz Bio: Dr. Dishowitz manages a portfolio of PCI Ventures startup companies,   focusing on life science sector, including therapeutics, medical devices and diagnostics. His primary responsibility is to build businesses that   commercialize Penn intellectual property by recruiting management, developing   business strategies, fundraising, board management, supporting company   operations, and executing deals.

Prior to joining PCI Ventures, Mike was a member of PriceSpective, a   boutique consulting agency, where he specialized in determining asset   valuation and pricing & market access potential of emerging life science   technologies. Before entering industry, Mike spent several years in academic   research, studying the impact of cell signaling pathways on orthopedic   tissue and repair. He was also co-founder of a startup company based on his   thesis research that uses a combination drug-device to promote bone formation   and regeneration.

Mike graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Florida   and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Mohanraj is a portfolio manager at   PCIV, working alongside Penn founders and entrepreneurs to create and grow   life sciences start-ups developing innovative medical device and diagnostic   systems, digital health tools, and therapeutics.

Bhavana Mohanraj Bio: Bhavana developed an interest in entrepreneurship during graduate school, wanting to understand how to translate research discoveries into commercial products. Initially focused on orthopaedic technologies, she co-founded a start-up company based on her research on a mechanically-activated drug delivery platform. After graduate school, Bhavana joined a medical device company, Biorez, developing regenerative implants to improve tendon and ligament healing. Now having returned to Penn, Bhavana joined the PCIV team, where she sits at the interface between academic research and company formation to help commercialize innovative technologies.

Bhavana graduated with a B.S and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from   Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the   University of Pennsylvania.