Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital

Share your thoughts with us! At Akcea Therapeutics, biotech leadership meant more than drug development—it meant building with purpose, addressing long-overlooked areas of health, and paving the way for future leaders. And at the helm was founding CEO Paula Soteropoulos. On this episode of Ventured Growth, Katie Segien sits down with Paula to explore how she helped take Akcea public, launched therapies for underserved diseases, and advanced efforts in women’s health—a space historically underfunded and under-researched. With 35 years of experience across pharma and biotech, Paula shares how she's using her platform to drive both innovation and inclusion. She also talks about mentoring the next generation of women CEOs, shaping boardroom dynamics, and why genomic medicine could help close longstanding gaps in women’s care. Topics include: Paula Soteropoulos is a seasoned biotech executive, board member and advisor whose career spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including rare disease, cardiovascular and metabolism, infectious disease, renal, and transplant and oncology. Paula is a Venture Partner at 5AM Ventures, and serves as Chairman of Ensoma, and on the boards of directors of Dianthus Therapeutics, Rallybio, and Kyowa Kirin. Paula was the founding CEO of rare disease therapeutic developer, Akcea Therapeutics, and was a board director at UniQure. She serves on the advisory boards for Chiesi USA and Tufts University Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Paula continues to lead and advise companies at the intersection of science, leadership, and women’s health.

Share your thoughts with us! At Eight Sleep, product innovation isn’t just about comfort—it’s about performance, health, and personalization at scale. And behind the numbers powering that mission is CFO Nick Chammas. On this episode of Ventured Growth, Catherine Jhung sits down with Nick to discuss how Eight Sleep evolved from a niche product for athletes into a sleep fitness brand with global momentum. From raising $100M to expanding manufacturing across continents, Nick has helped steer the company through pivotal growth milestones. He shares insights into their new AI-powered sleep agent, how digital twins are driving personalized rest, and why the best product feedback comes straight from the customer. Topics include: Nick Chammas is the CFO of Eight Sleep, the world’s first sleep fitness company. With experience across finance, operations, and strategy, he brings a holistic view to driving growth in a competitive consumer tech landscape.

Share your thoughts with us! In the high-stakes world of startups, few roles have evolved more dramatically than that of the CFO. Today’s finance leader is expected to move beyond spreadsheets — shaping strategy, influencing product development, and building cross-functional trust. M.G. Thibaut has done all of that and more. In this episode, Eddie Lopez is joined by M.G. Thibaut — former CFO of Strava, DroneDeploy, and Copper, and now the founder of Coterie CFO and Executive-in-Residence at Scale Venture Partners. With roots in investment banking and big tech, MG has spent over 16 years helping venture-backed startups grow, scale, and stay agile through every stage. Now, she’s focused on building something new. MG shares the founding story of Coterie CFO, a community redefining the relationship between finance leaders and the fintech tools they rely on. She also opens up about her advisory work at Scale, the traits of high-performing finance teams, and why she believes today’s CFO must be as comfortable with ambiguity as they are with analytics. Topics Include: M.G. Thibaut is a startup CFO turned venture partner and community builder. She is the founder of Coterie CFO and an Executive-in-Residence at Scale Venture Partners, advising startups and mentoring emerging finance leaders.

Share your thoughts with us! The food delivery landscape is changing. As consumer demands grow more sophisticated, companies must innovate—balancing speed, quality, and personalization to stand out in a saturated market. But can convenience and quality coexist in this fast-paced industry? Is there a way to truly personalize the dining experience while catering to the individual needs of each customer? Kelley Morell is the CFO of Wonder, a rising "super app" for mealtime. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Ruslan Sergeyev speaks with Kelley about her career journey, transitioning from an accomplished investor at Blackstone to leading the financial strategy of this startup. She reveals the unique approach Wonder is taking to conquer the food tech space, combining a multi-faceted platform with strategic acquisitions to offer an unparalleled consumer experience. Topics Include: Kelly Morell is the CFO of Wonder, a rapidly growing food tech company aiming to become the "super app" for mealtime. With extensive experience in both investing and operating, Kelly provides a valuable perspective on building a successful business in a dynamic industry. Her insights into the future of food, the power of technology, and the importance of a strong team offer inspiration for anyone looking to disrupt the status quo.

The financial services industry faces increasing pressure to combat financial crime and comply with evolving regulations. The old way of handling compliance—mostly through manual work—isn't cutting it anymore given how complex and fast-moving today's financial world is. This is where AI comes in, offering a powerful new way to strengthen compliance and protect market integrity. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Catherine Jhung speaks with Erkin Adylov, founder of Behavox and former hedge fund manager. He walks us through his career shift from managing investments to launching his own company. He explains why he started Behavox, which uses AI to help financial institutions stay compliant – a solution born from his firsthand experience seeing the limitations of traditional compliance methods. Topics Include: Erkin Adylov is the founder and CEO of Behavox, a leading provider of AI-enabled compliance solutions for the financial services industry. With a deep understanding of the complexities of financial markets and the evolving regulatory landscape, Erkin has led Behavox to become a trusted partner for institutions seeking to enhance their compliance programs and protect the integrity of capital markets.

The biotech and pharma industries are rapidly evolving, with mergers and acquisitions driving innovation and growth. As market demands shift, these deals reshape strategies, bolster R&D, and bring groundbreaking therapies to healthcare. With over 35 years of experience, Stephen Sands has guided high-impact transactions that have shaped the biotech and pharma landscape. In this episode, Janice Bourque speaks with Stephen about his journey from bioengineer to healthcare M&A leader. They examine the forces that drive today’s major deals, from global expansion to complex valuation challenges, and the strategies that ensure success in a competitive market. Topics Include: Stephen Sands is a Senior Advisor in Lazard’s Global Healthcare Group with a distinguished career in healthcare M&A. Known for his expertise in biotech and pharma, Stephen has led some of the industry's most transformative transactions, helping to drive strategic growth and innovation in the healthcare sector.

Vijay Patel is an institutional investor turned corporate venture capitalist. He has spent the last decade at the intersection of finance and healthcare, changing the way CVS Health approaches innovation and strategic investments. His journey from traditional venture capital to leading CVS Health® Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader in corporate venture capital and healthcare innovation. In this episode, Janice Bourque is joined by Vijay Patel to discuss his path from institutional investor to Managing Partner of CVS Health Ventures. They discuss the creation and growth of CVS Ventures, highlighting Vijay's approach to fostering innovation and driving strategic value in the healthcare ecosystem. Topics Include: Vijay Patel is the managing partner and co-founder of CVS Health Ventures and vice president of enterprise business development for CVS Health. Patel founded the CVS® Digital Leadership Program and has played a key role in developing strategic partnerships with digital health companies. Patel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

In an era where breakthrough innovations coexist with concerns over drug affordability, Peter Kolchinsky, founder and Managing Partner at healthcare and life sciences investment manager RA Capital, joins us to shed light on the factors and paths forward. Hercules Capital's Janice Bourque engages with Peter on his No Patient Left Behind initiative, a non-profit dedicated to making medicines affordable for everyone in America. Topics Include: Peter Kolchinsky, PhD is a founder and Managing Partner at RA Capital Management and author of The Great American Drug Deal. Peter is an active investor in and board member of publicly- and privately-held companies developing drugs, medical devices, diagnostics, and research tools. He served on the Board of Global Science and Technology for the National Academy of Sciences, is the author of The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Biotech Startup, and frequently writes and speaks on the future of biotechnology innovation. Peter founded and serves as a Director of No Patient Left Behind, a non-profit advocate for healthcare reforms that would make today's medicines affordable to patients and promote the innovation that gives all of us hope for tomorrow. He holds a BA from Cornell University and a PhD in Virology from Harvard University.

Navigating the intricate world of venture debt requires a deep understanding of both the legal landscape and financial imperatives. David Ephraim from Morrison & Foerster brings over two decades of experience to the table, making him a leading authority on structuring deals that align legal precision with business innovation. This episode, hosted by Janice Bourque from Hercules Capital, engages David Ephraim in a discussion about the nuances of venture debt, including how negotiations are framed, the roles of various stakeholders, and the essential strategies for overcoming common challenges. David also provides forward-looking insights into how the field might evolve in the coming years. Topics include: David Ephraim is the co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s Transactions Department and managing partner of their Boston office. He specializes in various aspects of secured lending, including venture debt, fund finance, and cross-border financing transactions. David's expertise ensures sophisticated solutions for banks, institutional lenders, and private funds, making him a pivotal figure in the financial industry. Join us on today’s episode, where David Ephraim’s expertise offers invaluable perspectives on the nuanced processes that underpin successful venture debt strategies, providing our listeners with guidance for navigating these essential financial instruments.

Public market investor turned tech visionary, Casey Woo, has spent the last two decades at the forefront of technology and finance, revolutionizing the way high-growth startups approach operations and strategy. His journey from analyzing markets on Wall Street to leading Operators Guild and FOG Ventures has positioned him as a thought leader at the intersection of technology, finance, and community building. In this episode, Catherine Jhung is joined by Casey Woo to discuss his unique path from public market investor to influential COO/CFO in the tech industry. They discuss the creation and growth of Operators Guild and FOG Ventures, highlighting Casey's approach to fostering community and driving innovation in the startup ecosystem. Topics Include: -Casey's transition from public market investor to tech COO/CFO -The founding story of Operators Guild and its impact on the tech community -Inside FOG Ventures: Strategy and vision for tech startups -The role of community in the success of tech and finance ventures -Navigating high-growth challenges in the startup world -Casey's vision for the future of technology and finance -And other topics… Casey Woo is the founder of Operators Guild, the premier community and ecosystem for finance and operational professionals at high growth companies, and its associated investing arm, FOG Ventures. He has two decades of experience as a proven, serial COO/CFO in high-growth technology companies, most recently as the CFO of property tech company Landing. Casey started his career as a public market investor focused on the consumer/retail, media, industrials, technology and healthcare sectors. His expertise in blending strategic finance with operational excellence has made him a pivotal figure in shaping the landscape of technology startups.

In the aftermath of the 2020 biotech surge and its subsequent contraction in 2022, the biotech industry has been characterized by significant volatility. There were 21 biotechnology IPOs in 2022, a notable decrease from the record-breaking 104 IPOs in 2021. To review the highs and lows of 2023 and explore what lies ahead in 2024, distinguished biotech analyst and co-founder of Endpoints News John Carroll joins Hercules Capital's Janice Bourque. Carroll brings 45 years of award-winning journalism, and a specialization in biopharma spanning over two decades to discuss the biggest pharma deals and surprises of 2023, the impact of AI on drug development, the future of biotech in Asia, and much more. Topics Include: ------------------ John D. Carroll is a biotech analyst and writer with decades of prize-winning experience in journalism. A co-founder of Endpoints News, he has covered biopharma for the past 15 years. Carroll has been quoted by The New York Times, The New Yorker, Financial Times, The Times of London and more. He’s also keynoted at biotech gatherings around the world and addressed student audiences at MIT and Harvard. Carroll has contributed stories from Central America and Ireland to the Dallas Morning News and Time and wrote for the Houston Press. He spent 6 years as editor and publisher of the Dallas Business Journal, was publisher of Texas Business and early in his career was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team of reporters and editors at the Kansas City Star & Times. Resources Mentioned: Endpoints News: https://endpts.com/ Connect with John: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-carroll-884aa410/

The gaming and platform industries are dynamic sectors at the intersection of technology and entertainment, constantly evolving to meet the demands of a global audience. In 2022, the revenue from the worldwide gaming market was approximately $347 billion. Ed Lu, a seasoned executive with 23 years of financial and operational experience, has played a pivotal role in this landscape, dedicating thirteen years as the CFO at online gaming and platform companies. Ed is the current Chief Financial Officer at Fandom, the world’s largest gaming and entertainment community platform. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Lesya Kulchenko and Ed Lu discuss Ed’s CFO experience within gaming and platform companies, top advice for new founders and aspiring CFOs in today’s business landscape, choosing between building, buying, and partnering, the key factors for successful acquisitions, when to pursue bargain opportunities, and much more. Topics Include: avoided---------- Ed Lu is a seasoned executive with 23 years of financial and operational experience and thirteen years as CFO at online gaming and platform companies. He is the current Chief Financial Officer at Fandom, the world’s largest gaming and entertainment community platform. During his tenure, Fandom has grown revenue by more than 3x, acquired three companies, and doubled its employee base to 500. Before joining Fandom, Ed served as the CFO for Outpost Games and Machine Zone. His tenure at Machine Zone involved raising over $800 million in combined financings, overseeing revenue growth from $8 million to $1.7 billion, and scaling the company from 30 to 1000+ employees. In his free time, he also enjoys serving as a strategic advisor for other digital gaming companies. Resources Mentioned: “Top 10 Start-Up Tips for Founders,” by Ed Lu: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6998677341623267328/

Healthcare and biotech venture capital plays a critical role in funding innovative medical technologies, drug development, and life-saving therapies. These investments drive advancements in healthcare, transforming science into products that improve global patient outcomes. Terry McGuire is a founding partner of Polaris Partners, with over 35 years of early-stage investing experience in medical and information technology companies. As a venture capitalist, Terry has invested in more than 80 companies that have raised over $7 billion in equity and corporate capital. In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque and Terry McGuire discuss Terry’s trajectory from generalist to distinguished expert in healthcare and biotech venture capital, strategies to find the right scientists and product, Terry’s biggest lessons in raises, limited partnerships and investor relationships, and much more. Topics Include: Terry McGuire is a founding partner of Polaris Partners, with over 35 years of early-stage investing experience in medical and information technology companies. As a venture capitalist, Terry has invested in more than 80 companies that have raised over $7 billion in equity and corporate capital. He also co-founded three companies: Inspire, AIR, and MicroCHIPS. Companies Terry has supported have touched more than 60 million patients and directly saved over 400,000 lives. Terry has been listed as one of Scientific American’s Worldview 100, Forbes’ Top Life Sciences Investors, and Forbes’ Midas 100 List of Top Tech Investors, among others. He is the chairman of the Global Venture Capital Congress, serves on several public and private boards of directors, and is the recipient of various awards, including the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Life Sciences awarded by Harvard and the City of Jerusalem.

In the dynamic field of life sciences, skillful operators ensure the efficient development of medical innovations, while insightful investors provide crucial capital and strategic guidance. Rich Aldrich's 30+ year career uniquely bridges both sides, having played key roles in founding and managing successful ventures in the industry. Rich Aldrich is a co-founder and partner at Longwood Fund. Before Longwood, he founded RA Capital Management and has been instrumental in co-founding and contributing to the growth of notable biotech companies, including Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Concert Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, among others. In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque and Rich Aldrich discuss key lessons in operations and investment, the advantages of public investing, the attributes of a strong management team, Rich’s reflections on the industry and much more. Topics include: Rich Aldrich is a co-founder and partner of Longwood Fund, an early-stage life science venture firm. With over 30 years of experience in the life sciences space, he has co-founded and helped build several biotech companies including Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, Concert Pharmaceuticals, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, among others. Before the Longwood Fund, Rich founded RA Capital Management, a life sciences investment fund with an AUM of over $9 billion. Rich received his undergraduate degree from Boston College and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth. He currently serves as a Director of Longwood portfolio companies Axial, Sitryx Therapeutics, and Colorescience.

The healthcare space has long been a transactional one, seeing patients as numbers instead of human relationships. In 2004, Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle began to challenge the status quo and create an entirely new model of care delivery that finally put patients at the center of healthcare. Rushika Fernandopulle is the co-founder and former CEO of Iora Health, a value-based primary care group based in Boston that was acquired by One Medical in 2021, where he served as Chief Innovation Officer. One Medical was acquired by Amazon earlier this year for close to $4 billion. Rushika currently serves on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care. In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Katie Segien is joined by Rushika Fernandopulle to discuss how he created a new delivery model for medicine, Iora Health’s business model evolution, going from bootstrapping to six rounds of funding, and other topics. Topics Include: Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is a practicing physician who has spent decades improving the quality of healthcare delivered to patients. He was co-founder and CEO of Iora Health, a value-based primary care group based in Boston that delivers better quality, lower costs, and improved satisfaction for both patients and providers. Iora was acquired by One Medical in 2021 for over $2 billion, which went on to be acquired by Amazon earlier this year for close to $4 billion. Rushika was the first Executive Director of the Harvard Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement and Managing Director of the Clinical Initiatives Center at the Advisory Board Company. He serves on the staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care.

Successful biotech companies require a capable CFO to guide the company through conducting clinical trials, securing regulatory approvals, establishing scalable production, and adeptly conveying value to healthcare stakeholders. Mark Hahn is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of CFO experience. He is currently the CFO of Verona Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque is joined by Hahn to discuss his experience as CFO of Verona, Dova, and Cempra, the intricacies of single-asset companies, preparing a company for FDA approval and commercialization, identifying a successful launch, and much more. Topics Include: Mark Hahn is a seasoned CFO with over 25 years of experience. He joined Verona Pharma as CFO in 2020. Prior to Verona, Hahn served as CFO of Dova Pharmaceuticals through its 2019 acquisition by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum for $915 million. There, he was instrumental in raising capital and launching the company’s first commercial product. Prior to Dova, Hahn was CFO of Cempra, where he led the company’s IPO and several subsequent follow-on offerings until the company’s acquisition by Melinta Therapeutics in 2017. Earlier, Hahn was the CFO of several other public and private companies. Hahn began his career at Ernst & Young. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a certified public accountant in Maryland and North Carolina.

The healthcare technology sector has witnessed astonishing growth in investments, skyrocketing from $3 billion pre-pandemic to $29 billion in 2021. Michael Greeley brings invaluable insights to the show as the co-founder and general partner of Flare Capital Partners, a pioneering venture capital firm dedicated to healthcare technology. Before Flare, Greeley was the founding general partner of Flybridge Capital Partners. Earlier in his career, he was with Polaris Partners, and also held positions at GCC Investments, Wasserstein Perella & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co. In this episode, Hercules Capital’s Katie Segien is joined by Michael Greeley to discuss his experience as an early pioneer in health tech investments, the remarkable growth and challenges of healthcare technology, the impact of AI on healthcare programs and services, and much more. Topics Include: Michael Greeley is a co-founder and general partner at Flare Capital Partners. Before co-founding Flare in 2014, he focused on emerging growth company financings as the founding general partner of Flybridge Capital Partners. Earlier, he held positions with Polaris Partners, GCC Investments, Wasserstein Perella & Co., and Morgan Stanley & Co. Greeley sits on dozens of boards and authors the blog On the Flying Bridge. Greeley received a BA with honors in chemistry from Williams College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. While he considers himself a New Yorker, he grew up in Hong Kong and currently resides in Boston. Resources Mentioned: Flare Capital Partners: https://www.flarecapital.com/ Michael Greeley’s blog: https://ontheflyingbridge.wordpress.com/ Flare Capital Scholars Program: https://www.flarecapital.com/flare-capital-scholar-application

Elizabeth Bailey has more than 20 years of experience supporting early-stage startups as a venture capitalist. Today, she is a founding member at RH Capital where she serves as the fund's Managing Director. RH Capital is a women-led, impact venture capital fund that strategically invests in early-stage startups dedicated to revolutionizing women's health. In this episode, Elizabeth joins Hercules Capital’s Janice Bourque to discuss the origin, strategies, and portfolio of RH Capital. They discuss how female founders are changing the landscape in the women’s health space with support from venture capitalists. Topics Include: - High return opportunities for investors in the women’s health space - How venture capital can improve health outcomes for underserved groups - The origin, strategies, and portfolio of RH Capital - Collaboration opportunities for strategic investors, startups, and venture funds - Conducting thorough due diligence when evaluating companies - And other topics… Elizabeth Bailey is the Managing Director and founding team member at RH Capital, a women-led impact venture capital fund for early-stage startups focused on health equity and revolutionizing women’s health. RH Capital leverages investment capital to address health disparities, focusing on biotech, devices, diagnostics, digital health, and services. Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience in venture capital and supporting early-stage companies. Before joining RH Capital, Elizabeth served as the Founding Director of the Consortium for Affordable Medical Technologies at Massachusetts General Hospital and Investment Partner at Commons Capital, one of the first impact investment funds. Elizabeth holds a Master’s from Harvard Kennedy School and a BA from Brown University. Resources Mentioned: RH Capital: https://www.rh.capital/ Tara Health Foundation: http://tarahealthfoundation.org/ May: https://www.getmay.com/ Radiant Oximetry: http://www.radianoximetry.com/

The subscription e-commerce market is expected to grow by $784 billion by 2026. Locus Robotics, a subscription-based mobile robotics and software provider, is a pioneer leading the way in warehouse automation. Dustin Pederson is the Chief Financial Officer of Locus Robotics, a company that supplies over 230 warehouse sites with up to 500 bots per site. With 15 years of experience in enterprise software, AI, warehouse automation, education, and aerospace, Dustin helps companies grow by enabling high-performance teams and overseeing all aspects of a business. In this episode, Hercules Capital host Noah Carville and Dustin discuss the principles of scaling a business, fundraising and managing operations in today’s economy, the trade-offs between raising debt versus raising equity, and much more. Topics Include: Dustin Pederson is the Chief Financial Officer for Locus Robotics, a subscription-based autonomous mobile robotics and software provider for over 230 warehouse sites in the U.S. He is also the previous VP of Finance and Operations at Cognito and Advisory Board Member for Text IQ. With 15 years of experience in enterprise software, AI, warehouse automation, education, and aerospace, Dustin helps companies grow by enabling high-performance teams and overseeing all aspects of a business. His roles have covered venture fundraising, business planning and analysis, sales strategy and operations, finance, marketing, legal contracts management, and facilities management. Resources Mentioned: Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight: https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Dog-Memoir-Creator-Nike-ebook/dp/B0176M1A44

Laureen DeBuono is a highly seasoned CEO, COO, CFO, and Board Member currently serving as Managing Partner at FLG Partners. During her career, she has raised over $2B in financings, led 2 IPOs, and completed over $12B in M&A transactions. In this episode, Hercules Capital's Eddie Lopez and Laureen discuss company restructuring, five qualities CFOs need to be successful, advice for companies that can’t access IPOs, the challenges CFOs may face in the upcoming years, and much more. Topics Include: - Laureen’s 40+ years of experience in Silicon Valley - Restructuring a company - Five things every CFO must have to be successful - How the CFO role has evolved - Advice for companies that can’t access IPOs in current markets - The challenges CFOs may face over the next two years - And other topics… Laureen DeBuono is a highly seasoned CEO, COO, CFO, and Board Member with over three decades of executive management experience. During her career, she has raised over $2B in financings, led two IPOs, and completed over $12B in M&A transactions. Laureen currently serves as Managing Partner at FLG Partners, LLC, working with companies like HotelTonight, Rodan+Fields, and the Actian Corporation. She holds her B.A. from Duke University, M.A. from Stanford University, and J.D. from New York University School of Law.