Ezhil Subbian is the founder and CEO of String Inc, a biotech company developing disruptive technologies to accelerate the biobased revolution. Ezhil is an innovator, leader, and passionate scientist, who is driven to solve the bottlenecks in biotech. She made her foray into the industry through Gevo Inc, a biobutanol company, where she was one of the earliest employees. From there, she moved on to lead the cellulosic ethanol project with Codexis Inc, under the Shell-Iogen Energy collaboration. She currently works as a technical consultant for synthetic biology/biotechnology companies. Ezhil has personally experienced the challenges of solving today’s problems with yesterday’s tools and is driven to change the status-quo. She has several key patent applications related to biofuels and biobased chemicals. Ezhil received her Bachelor’s in Industrial Biotechnology from Anna University in India, and her PhD in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Oregon Health & Sciences University. To recharge her batteries Ezhil relies on yoga, and enjoys the science of cooking and home-brewing. She is a 2013 Fellow in the Startup Leadership Program in Silicon Valley.

Fellow since

Nikhil Bhat, CoFounder, Vancel Corp Nikhil Bhat is the co-founder of Vancel Corporation, a startup focused on child safety products. He also works at Acclarent Inc developing innovative products to treat otitis media. Prior to Acclarent, he worked at Pavad Medical Inc, a venture funded medical device startup, developing implantable medical devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea. Nikhil is an experienced medical device professional with 4 issued patents and more than 14 patents pending. He holds a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University. Nikhil is passionate about developing low-cost medical devices which improve people’s lives. He is a 2012 Fellow in the Startup Leadership Program in Silicon Valley Chapter.

Fellow since

Shalabh Gupta, Founder & CEO, Biocycive Shalabh Gupta, is Founder & CEO of BioCycive, Inc, a biotech company focused on developing new drugs in niche therapeutic indications, with a world-class scientific advisors, board members and strategic partners. Shalabh also serves on the board of directors of Phenomenome Discoveries, Inc, a diagnostic and therapeutics company backed by Canadian pension and PE funds. Earlier, Shalabh worked in Genentech, Inc. where he marketed Rituxan and Actemra, and worked on pipeline products. Prior to joining Genentech, he worked in equity research covering large-cap pharmaceutical companies at UBS and Rodman & Renshaw. He also served as an advisor to Green Hills Ventures, an early-stage private equity fund based in New York, where he managed the life-sciences portfolio for the fund. Shalabh was an attending physician and completed his MD at the NYU Medical Center and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. He has written and presented more than two dozen papers focused in the field of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, and coordinated phase III and IV clinical trials at the NYU Medical Center. He was President of the national organization overseeing the 1500-strong rehabilitation resident physicians across the United States. Shalabh is a board certified physician with the American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. He also received his Masters in Public Administration in health management from the Wagner School of Public Services at NYU. While in investment banking, he also held Series 7, 63, 86, and 87 securities licenses.

Fellow since