Mentors
The heart of the Deshpande Center is its Catalysts, mentors who share their expertise with grantees working to take their technologies to the marketplace.
Filter Catalysts by:
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Rajesh Aggarwal
Panda Health | Chief Growth & Strategy Officer Rajesh Aggarwal is a physician and executive leader with clinical, scientific, and technological expertise in healthcare innovations.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1453d0_787420b6899440aa8af00c0987cd62a1-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Jeff Arnold
CEO Advisor and Investor Jeff Arnold is an angel investor and mentor to CEOs for diverse life science companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/bachrach-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Hillel Bachrach
20/20 HealthCare Partners | Founder and Managing Partner Hillel Bachrach is an entrepreneur investing in life science and medical entities.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/banergee-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-1-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Roopom Banerjee
WhiteLeaf Advisors | Managing Partner Life Science Catalyst nurturing MIT innovators through major inflection points from company inception to high-value exit.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Barry-M.-Berger-MD-FCAP-larger-head-shot-gigapixel-standard-v2-2x-faceai-v2-2-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Barry Berger
Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officer Barry M. Berger MD FCAP is the Chief Medical Officer at NAVERIS, a molecular diagnostics company.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Catalyst-Spotlight_Sameer-375x300-c-default.jpg)
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Paul Blackborow
Hamamatsu Photonics | Business Development Paul Blackborow was CEO of Energetiq Technology, now a subsidiary of Hamamatsu Photonics.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/brown-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Larry Brown
Noveome Biotherapeutics | Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer Larry Brown has broad experience in large pharmaceutical and start-up venture capital based companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/bunt-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Christine Bunt
BuntAssociates LLC | Managing Director Christine Bunt is an entrepreneur, investor, founder, and CEO of life sciences companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Burwell-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Malcolm Burwell
Deep Science Start-up Founder As a builder of early-stage deeptech start-ups, Malcolm Burwell acts at the overlap of technology, markets and operations.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/joe-caruso-aspect-ratio-360-360-2-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Joe Caruso
Advisor Joe Caruso is an active angel investor, mentor, coach and personal advisor to CEO’s and entrepreneurs.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Casey-Pat-231F_For-Web-Use-e1668463809419-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
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Jose Estabil
ADN Genomix | Cofounder José Estabil is experienced in translating technology into high-growth businesses.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bob20Farra201-scaled-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Robert Farra
Entrepreneur Robert Farra is an entrepreneur/executive with expertise in medical devices development.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Catalyst_Freedman-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Jim Freedman
Retired MIT TLO Associate Director and Consultant Jim Freedman is experienced in product development and manufacturing of materials and processes, and patenting and licensing of new technologies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/golini-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Don Golini
SANICA Ventures | Consultant Don Golini has over 20 years experience in the development, management and commercialization of new technologies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Gupta-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Sanjay Gupta
AirFuel Alliance | President Sanjay Gupta has expertise in launching hardware, firmware, and software systems solutions.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/bubba2-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Nesbitt Hagood
Tenon Ventures | General Partner Nesbitt Hagood, currently serving as the Managing General Partner at Tenon Ventures, is a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/kirtland-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Mark Kirtland
Pyxis Advisors | Managing Director Mark Kirtland guides equity firms, VCs, and med tech companies on strategy, commercialization, R&D priorities, and corporate development.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/krasner-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Michael Krasner
Vioby | Cofounder Mike Krasner, a pioneer in digital audio, has cofounded a number of businesses in advanced tech markets.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Profile202-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Manoj Kumar
Architect and Advisor Manoj Kumar is a healthcare AI leader with genomics and precision medicine expertise.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/linke-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Bob Linke
IonSense, Inc. | Board Executive Chairman Bob Linke is a seasoned healthcare entrepreneur.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/liu-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Sissi Liu
Metalmark Innovations | CEO Sissi Liu is an entrepreneur and investor targeting sustainability and climate change challenges.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/livada-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Val Livada
Consultant Val Livada is an active member of the Boston entrepreneurship ecosystem, board member or advisor to many start-ups.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mabry-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
George Mabry
Consultant and Investor George Mabry focuses on early stage companies in medical, software, and B2B industries.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/mason-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Bob Mason
Argon Ventures | Managing Partner Bob Mason leads pre-seed, deep-tech investments to launch products and build businesses.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/mcgrath-edited-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Jon McGrath
Medtech Entrepreneur Jon McGrath is a medtech entrepreneur and has led transformative therapeutic technology projects.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GM-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Gaurav Mehta
Co-founder CEO and Advisor Gaurav Mehta is an accomplished entrepreneur with extensive experience in building, scaling, and transforming companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/nordan-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Matthew M. Nordan
Prime Impact Fund | Managing Director Matthew Nordan is an investor, advisor and analyst for early stage companies, especially related to climate innovation.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lisa-p-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Lisa Paborsky
Biotechnology Executive Lisa Paborsky is an accomplished executive driving corporate strategy, business development and operations for early-stage biotech companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/pressman-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-1-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Lori Pressman
Consultant and Advisor Lori Pressman brings intellectual property, scientific, and business development expertise to the Deshpande table.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/John-Ripple-aspect-ratio-360-360-2-375x300-c-default.jpg)
John Ripple
Ripple Biotech, LLC | Founder John Ripple has been CEO of five biotechs, and his LLC advises biopharmaceuticals.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/alex-ros-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Alex Rosiewicz
A2E Partners Founding Partner Alex Rosiewicz set up A2E Partners, a consulting company assisting small and large photonics companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/rudoltz-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Marc Rudoltz
MSR Healthcare Consultants LLC | President Marc Rudoltz provides executive support to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/sager-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Jason Sager
Sagely Health | CEO Jason Sager is an oncology physician-scientist with more than 20 years of clinical and drug development experience.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/shu-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
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Eric Swanson
MIT | Research Affiliate Eric Swanson holds managerial posts in academic, industrial, and nonprofit organizations![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/image-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Samson Timoner
Entrepreneur Samson Timoner is a serial entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience in computer vision.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/turner-edited-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Jack Turner
Technology Licensing Advisor Prior to retiring, Jack Turner was the Senior Associate Director of MIT's TLO.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/0031_2-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)
Anna Voronova
MIT OSATT | Catalyst Dr. Anna Voronova’s experience spans many biotech and pharma companies.![](https://deshpande-mit-edu.ezproxyberklee.flo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Josh-Wachman-1-aspect-ratio-360-360-375x300-c-default.jpg)