Nicole is the Program Director for MedTech Innovator. Nicole grew up in Michigan before attending Boston University to study Biomedical Engineering as Trustee Scholar. In 2020, Nicole completed her PhD at Harvard University, working on interdisciplinary medtech projects between the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering and Mass Eye and Ear hospital. After graduating, Nicole launched a startup company, Beacon Bio, based on her PhD work as a Gliklich Healthcare Innovation Scholar. Following Beacon Bio’s acquisition by Desktop Metal, Nicole served as the Vice President of Biofabrication in their Desktop Health division. Nicole’s accolades include the Collegiate Inventors Competition Graduate Winner (2018), the Baxter Young Investigator Award (2020), the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize (2021), and the MIT Technology Review Innovators Under 35 (2023).

Albert Baker is the Corporate Director of Innovation and Commercialization at Hackensack Meridian Health. He has been driving innovation system-wide and building an investment portfolio. He has worked and lived in Europe for several years, as well as Silicon Valley. He attended the University of Iowa graduate program in Physics. Prior to Hackensack Meridian Health, Al has worked on the cutting edge of building Wi-Fi technology and markets for international companies like Phillips BV, where he spearheaded investment and strategic deals with several startup companies based in the United States. He has also been involved in the creation of internet of things market and med-tech start-ups with successful exits.

Justin Klein is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Vensana Capital, a leading venture capital and growth equity firm dedicated to medtech innovation. Justin graduated with an AB in Economics, a BS in Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, and a Minor in Chemistry from Duke University. He also concurrently earned an MD from the Duke University School of Medicine and a JD from Harvard Law School. Justin currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association and AdvaMed Accel, where he is the Vice Chair of the Investor Advisory Committee of AdvaMed’s board. He is also a member of the board of directors of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations that serves over 3.5 million patients in the greater Washington, DC, region. Prior to Vensana, Justin was a partner and leader of the medical technology investing practice at NEA, one of the largest and most active venture capital firms in the world. Justin also worked at the Duke University Health System where his experience included roles in strategy, finance, and operations as Duke built one of the nation’s first integrated healthcare delivery systems.

Lisa Suennen is the Managing Partner at American Heart Association (AHA) Ventures, bringing more than 35 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, operating executive roles, strategy consulting, and corporate venture investing. At AHA Ventures, Lisa is spearheading multi‑fund investments in cardiovascular, brain, women’s, and social‑determinants health innovations. Previously, she held General Partner positions at Manatt Ventures, Psilos Group, and GE Ventures (where she led the healthcare venture fund) and held senior operating roles at Merit Behavioral Care, Canary Medical, and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. Lisa also holds faculty status at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, is a Fellow of the Aspen Institute Health Innovators Fellowship, and serves as a Chairperson of the Investment Advisory Committee for the ANDHealth Digital Health Fund. Formerly, she chaired the NASA‑funded Translational Research Institute for Space Health. In addition to her investment work, she maintains a blog, Venture Valkyrie blog, which has been featured on recommendation lists published by Forbes, MedCity News, and Health IT. Importantly, Lisa was named to the 2025 Forbes 50 Over 50 List in the “Investment” category.

Susan is an accomplished executive in development and commercialization of new medical technologies with over 25 years of experience in both start-up and large public companies. She currently serves as Managing Director at KCK, a leading venture capital and growth equity investment firm and serves on the Board of Directors for several medical device companies. Prior to KCK, Susan served as CEO of Zenflow and remains on the company’s Board of Directors. Her unique expertise includes serving as Chief Strategy Officer for Intersect ENT, building the company from its inception into a high growth public company. There she devised and executed its product, commercial and long-term strategies to result in a portfolio of products with over $120M in sales and an eventual sale to Medtronic for over $1B. She is a proud Guidant alumna, is a frequent speaker on the medtech industry and is a founding Member of MedtechWomen, a not-for profit dedicated to developing and promoting female executives. Susan holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.