Life Sciences Entrepreneur combining technical and business expertise with 30-years of industry experience building, investing in, and successfully exiting life-science and technology companies. Committed to driving life-changing biomedical innovations to the market to positively impact patient lives. Experienced for-profit and non-profit board director and serial entrepreneur.

As an investor, served as the inaugural director the Blavatnik Fund at Yale, launched the Johnson & Johnson investment fund in partnership with the Center for Innovative Technology and was a Venture Advisor to Epidarex Ventures, a transatlantic life-science venture firm. Led investment advisory boards with top-tier investment firms including H.I.G. Ventures, Atlas, Orbimed and Canaan for the evaluation of early-stage deals. Held board representation across a portfolio of +15 companies, led deal sourcing, due diligence, investment closeout across technology, diagnostics, devices and therapeutics. These early-stage investments enabled successful exits including medSage (acq: Philips Healthcare), Isoplexis (NASDAQ: ISO), and Biorez ($250M Acq NYSE: CNMD)

Recognized thought leader with extensive network holding numerous awards including: “Industry Superstar”, “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Entrepreneurial Innovation & Leadership Winner , Power 25, New Haven Biz, 2021 | Tech 25, New Haven Biz, 2021 and co-author of playbook “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs” sponsored by JPMorgan Chase; and TEDx speaker.

Chair of the Emerging Company Section Board of Directors of Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and also serves on the Executive Committee, the world’s largest trade association representing >1,000 biotech companies globally to advance the industry through direct engagement with FDA leadership, capital formation and drug payor policies.

Early in her career she has held executive roles ranging from New Ventures/M&A (Philips Healthcare – previously Respironics), leading quality assurance/regulatory affairs (Hyperion) and manufacturing scale up (IVAX). Erika received a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in International Business from Vanderbilt University.