Team – SPIDEN

Team & Advisory Board

OUR PEOPLE

We built a team with deep experience in serial entrepreneurship, MedTech product development and Spiden’s key science disciplines.

OUR TEAM

Leo Grünstein

Founder & CEO

Founder of LG Capital, a Family Office focused on incubation of “big idea” ventures

Serial entrepreneur, investor & Co-Founder of more than two dozens international start-ups, with multiple VC investments and successful exits (e.g. MoneyPark, acquired in 2016 for CHF 153m)

Previously project manager at McKinsey & Co. & Analyst at HSBC’s M&A team

MBA Columbia Business School, B.A. St. Gallen University

Bernd Wittner, PhD

Chief technology officer

20 years of experience in the MedTech industry. Built and lead cross-functional and multi-national R&D organizations; successfully developed, launched and sustained complex therapy systems

Previously Senior R&D leader of the Acute Therapies business in Baxter Healthcare Inc and Gambro Lundia AB

PhD in Engineering Design from the University of Cambridge

Designed and built at scale ML pipelines for leading global companies in healthcare, banking, retail and renewables

Data Science Lead at Databricks (Andreessen Horowitz backed AI/distributed computing start up now valued at $6bn+). Founded and lead team to create first production forecasting pipeline

First North America ML Engineer for AI company QuantumBlack; global top ranked employee co-leading analytics transformations for McKinsey

Thunder Shiviah

Chief analytics officer

Daniel Thürig

VP operations & strategy

Former Associate Partner at McKinsey & Co. with 8+ years of experience in management consulting, focusing on strategy, M&A, and business building for major high-tech manufacturers and service providers

Operational experience in Design-to-Value, procurement and production programs for high tech products

MA in Economics University of Zurich

Övünç Okyay

Co-founder & venture builder

Managing Director LG Capital

Previously PE investor at The Carlyle Group’s $500m MENA Fund, analyst at Morgan Stanley and consultant at McKinsey & Co.

Diverse industry expertise with strong experience in investing, strategy and portfolio management

MBA Columbia Business School; M.Sc. Production Engineering TU Berlin

Elizabeth Canovic, PhD

Biomedical science team lead

10 years experience in biomedical research at top U.S. & European institutions; Postdoctoral researcher at MIT and EPFL (competitive funding from the Whitaker Foundation)

Next-generation brain and spinal cord implants; building bio-compatible microfabricated circuitry; analyzing tissue response to short- and long-term implants

MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University

Jean-Christophe Blancon, PhD

Biophotonics lead system designer

10 years of research experience in physics, materials science, and optics-photonics at Rice University, Los Alamos National Lab, Université de Lyon, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Recipient of the 2018 IUPAP Young Scientist Prize for Semiconductor Physics and of the 2019 Highly Cited Researcher

PhD in Physics from Université de Lyon and M.Sc. in Optics & Photonics from KIT

Paolo Livi, PhD

Opto-electronics development team lead

10 years of experience in R&D conducted in academia (ETH Zurich) and in the industry (Dectris Ltd.)

Design of analog and mixed-signal CMOS integrated circuits (ASICs); design of novel sensors and of integrated sensing systems (bio-chemical sensors, hybrid photon counters); ultra-low power electronics

PhD in Electrical Engineering from ETH Zurich

Cole Howard

ML engineering team lead

7 years of experience in AI, software architecture, and scaling technical teams

Expertise in deep learning and applied machine learning both in modeling and production environments at scale

Co-author of Natural Language Processing in Action

BA in Mathematics and Economics from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Balthasar Müller, PhD

Data science team lead

Co-founder of Rhizome Works, an applied machine learning research and consulting firm serving a wide range of industries

7+ years of academic research in optical physics, with several publications in top-ranked journals

PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University, BSc in Physics from University of Iceland

Yifan Cao

Analytics product manager

Deep expertise in scoping, building, and delivering ML and analytics assets at top global companies across a wide range of industries

Former senior Data Scientist with McKinsey’s AI and ML team, specializing in external data usage and novel experimental business applications of analytics

B.Sc. in Mathematics and Economics from MIT

Muriel Fleming

HR director

10 years of international experience in HR management and business partnering, of which 7 years within the Life Science & MedTech industry

Extensive experience in rapid upscaling within start-ups, establishing policies, processes, creation of values, culture and creating a great place to work

CIPD qualified in HR Management and Diploma in Employment Law & Practice from CILEx Law School, London

Hirad Rezaeian

Electronics engineer

9 years of experience in R&D conducted in academia (ETH Zurich) and in the industry (u-blox)

Design of Digital and Mixed-Signal ASICs/FPGA for GNSS and AI applications
ASIC/FPGA Digital Design and Verification
System-Level Integration, FPGA Prototyping, and FPGA-Based Neural Network Accelerator

MS in Electrical Engineering and Information Technology from ETH Zurich

Luis Miguel Jara Casas

Electronics engineer

5 years of experience in applied electronics research for high energy physics at CERN

Deep expertise in ASIC testing and characterization, especially in radiation harsh environments; radiation effects to electronics for pixel detectors, total ionizing dose (TID), single event effects (SEUs) and data acquisition systems (DAQ) development

MS in Electronics Engineering and in Physics from the Complutense University of Madrid

Ennio Monteil, PhD

ASIC design engineer

7 years of experience in R&D in academia at University of Turin and INFN

Design of analog and mixed-signal ASICs for the readout of silicon pixel detectors used in high energy physics applications at CERN; low-power and low-noise electronics design; ASIC testing and characterization, notably in high radiation environments

PhD in Physics from the University of Turin

Andrea Sterzi, PhD

Senior photonic engineer

10 years of research experience in Physics, focused on designing and operating a wide range of optical spectroscopy techniques at several institutions such as Empa (ETH, Switzerland) and at the international synchrotron facility Elettra (Trieste, Italy)

Designed and developed a market-oriented deep-UV Raman spectrometer for on-line monitoring water quality by evaluating pesticides and drugs content

PhD in Physics from the University of Trieste and BS in Physics from University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Brescia

Claudio Zanobini, PhD

Biophotonics engineer

8 years of experience in academic research (University of Zurich, European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy – LENS, University of Florence) and the ultrafast laser industry (Menhir Photonics)

Expertise in time-resolved ultrafast (femtosecond) laser spectroscopy techniques, vibrational spectroscopy, light-matter interactions, biophotonics, biophysics, chemistry, and programming

PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Zurich

Joo Siang Ng

Principal optofluidic design engineer

15 years of experience in product design engineering across precision optomechanics, fluidic handling, and motion systems. Former Sr. Mechanical Design Engineer at Qiagen

Successfully completed 10+ product design cycles (concept to commercial launch). Portfolio spans surgical microscope binoculars, video tubes and accessories; nucleic acid purification, fluidic handling and NGS platform for life science and molecular diagnostic use

Zahra Halvorsen, PhD

Microfluidics engineer

6 years of experience in biochemistry field focused on innovative industrial solutions for point of care diagnostic applications at several institutions including EPFL and ETH Zurich

Experience in liquid handling, microfluidics, flow cytometry and nucleic acid amplification techniques

PhD in Biochemistry from ETH Zurich

Gabriela Santilli, PhD

Senior biochemist

7 years of experience in biochemistry and analytical chemistry; postdoctoral researcher at UZH

Strong expertise in separation, identification and quantification of biomarkers, method validation, quality control, design and analysis of experiments, and operating and maintaining analytical instruments

PhD in Sciences from ETH Zürich, MS in Physical Chemistry from UFSCar/Embrapa Brazil

Fernanda Lavorato

Laboratory technician

Over 6 years of experience in clinical analysis laboratories in renowned health care institutions in Argentina

Broadly cross-trained in molecular biology, hematology, serology, microbiology and chemistry. Phlebotomy procedures interacting directly with patients in ER, ICU, OR and recovery

Laboratory Technician from Dr. Ignacio Pirovano Hospital in Argentina

Gevi Anathavettivelu, PhD

Clinical chemistry intern

6 years of experience in immunology and clinical research conducted in academia

Strong expertise in acute and chronic inflammation, hepatology, tumor biology and liver diseases

PhD in Sciences from University of Hamburg, MS in Molecular Medicine and BS in Biochemistry from University of Frankfurt

Elena Dos Santos, PhD

Fluidic and automation engineer

8 years of research experience in separation processes and biotechnology at ETH Zurich and University of Basel (Research Fund for excellent Junior Researchers)

Expertise in liquid handling, droplet-microfluidics, development of fluidic platforms, fluid dynamics and sensing

PhD in Mechanical and Process Engineering from ETHZ and Msc from Politecnico di Milano

Jannes Jegminat, PhD

Machine learning engineer

Deep expertise in recursive Bayesian inference, combining dynamics and uncertainty

5 years of academic research experience focusing on computational models of human behavior and synaptic learning; ran the AI-team at the student think-tank reatch

PhD in Computational Neuroscience from UZH. MS and BS in Physics from the University of Heidelberg

Nemanja Andric, PhD

Data scientist

5 years of experience in interdisciplinary research conducted in academia

Expertise in the area of computational science, data-based modelling and data engineering, numerical methods, probability theory and statistics

PhD in Computational Engineering from ETH Zürich

Lucas Binggeli

Business development associate

6 years of experience in Banking & Insurance

Master Candidate in Business Innovation and CEMS Master in International Management at University of St. Gallen

B.Sc. in Business Administration with specialisation in Strategy & Managing Dynamics from Bern University of Applied Sciences

Ana Perez Carrillo

Associate communications & administration

Over 3 years of international working experience (Mexico, USA, Switzerland) in the Hospitality Industry and in the startup scene

Master Candidate in Business Administration major Business Development and Promotion at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts

BA International Hospitality Management from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and UVM in Mexico

ADVISORY BOARD

Christian Casal, PhD

Serial VC & PE investor with multiple successful exits

Formerly CEO of McKinsey Switzerland, and member of McKinsey’s Global Board, mostly focusing on financial services (Head of EMEA Banking)

Various Board positions in Switzerland incl. Lucernefestival, and Tafeln Schweiz

PhD and M.Sc. in Business Administration from University of St. Gallen

Stephen Oesterle, MD

Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates in Palo Alto since 2015; serving on several Boards (e.g. Baxter)

Formerly Medtronic’s Senior Vice-President for Medicine and Technology and a member of the Medtronic Executive Committee for 14 years

Served on the faculty at Stanford and Harvard Medical Schools while directing the Invasive Cardiology Services at Stanford Hospital and the Massachusetts General Hospital

Young Sohn, MS

Former Corporate President and Chief Strategy Officer of Samsung Electronics

Chairman of the Board of Harman International, served on the Boards of Arm, Cadence and Cymer

Seed investor to companies such as Berkeley Lights, Fungible, Zoom Video, Graphcore and TTTech, continuous to be very active venture investor

Edward J. Ludwig, M.B.A.

Board member of Boston Scientific and Board member at CVS health

Former Chairman of the Board of Becton, Dickinson and Company from 2002-2012, and its CEO from 2000 – 2011

Formerly served as a director of Xylem, and as vice chair of the Board of trustees of the Hackensack University Medical Center Network

Saralyn Mark, MD

World-renowned leader in women’s health, expert on space medicine and author

Served as a medical and scientific policy advisor to the White House, NASA, and other organizations

Associate Professor adjunct at Yale and Kings College-London

Published/delivered over 700 lectures and is frequently appearing in media as health expert

Mervyn Singer, Prof.

Prof. of Intensive Care Medicine at University College London with over 30 years’ research experience in sepsis, multi-organ failure, infection, shock and hemodynamic monitoring

Developed a hemodynamic monitor reducing length of stay after surgery, co-developed the UCL Ventura CPAP device to support breathing of COVID-19 patients

Co-chaired the Sepsis-3 International Task Force that redefined sepsis (Singer JAMA 2016); paper has had >3 million views and is one of the most heavily cited in the scientific literature over the past 5 years

Petra Jantzer, PhD

Managing Director with Accenture focused on technology and digitization

VP of the Board of Advance – women in business society

Formerly Partner with McKinsey, where she worked for 17 years, focused on Pharma, Biotech & Technology

Post-doc, PhD and M.Sc. in Biology and Immunology at Ludwig-Maximilians University

Omer Dzemali, Prof.

Chief Physician of the Clinic for Cardiac Surgery in the City Hospital Triemli Zurich

Ca. 20 years of exp. in cardiology

Full Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, State University Tetova (Macedonia); Lecturer in Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main and University of Zurich

Doctorate in Medicine from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz

Edoardo Charbon, Prof.

Full Professor of EPFL with over 25 years of exp. with CMOS sensors, biophotonics, ultra low-power wireless embedded systems, ultra high-speed and 3D optical sensors

Advised numerous organizations, including Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, and the Carlyle Group

Diploma (ETH Zürich), M.S. (UCSD) and Ph.D. (UC-Berkeley) in Electrical Engineering

Joyce Wong, Prof.

Prof. of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Boston University with more than 20 years of experience in development of novel biomaterials

Research interests include theranostics (detection and treatment) for cardiovascular diseases and cancer; tissue-engineered and nanoparticle strategies for cardiovascular diseases

Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Simon P. Hoerstrup, Prof.

Chair & Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine (Uni Zurich) and Founding Co-Director of Wyss Zurich (Uni & ETH Zurich)

Prof. of Biomedical Engineering at TU Eindhoven, Associate Member of the Department of Health Science Technology at ETH Zurich, associate faculty of the Harvard Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering

Co-Founder of a series of medtech and biotech spin-off companies

Laura Figulla, PhD

Associate Partner Transaction Advisory at E&Y

Co-Founder/CEO of coramaze technologies GmbH (founded 2013), where she built a class III implant medical device start-up from scratch, raising >10m EUR in funding

Co-Founder/part-time COO of DEVIE medical GmbH, a startup at early-stage development of a disruptive drug-eluting-valve technology

PhD in Health Economics from University Essen

Stefano Ciampolini, Prof.

Serial healthcare and medical technology entrepreneur in Europe and the US with multiple successful exits in the dialysis and renal care sector

Adjunct Professor of Imperial College Business School in London, Mentor at Imperial Enterprise Lab’s Venture Mentoring Service as well as a member of the Chair of Entrepreneurship at ETH Zurich. Jury member of Venture Kick, Switzerland’s largest startup accelerator program

MBA from Imperial College Business School and degree in economics from Kingston University in London

Lui Forni, MD

Professor of Intensive Care Medicine at University of Surrey and Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Wide ranging research experience ranging from basic physical chemistry through to patient centred clinical trials

Research interests focus on extracorporeal techniques and novel biomarkers for acute kidney injury translating research from the bench to the bedside. Published extensively particularly in critical care nephrology

Chris McIntyre, MD

Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, Biophysics and Robert Linday Chair of Dialysis Research and Innovation at the University of Western Ontario, London

Leading a team of multidisciplinary researchers focused largely on the pathophysiology of the effecting cardiovascular, brain, liver and gastro-intestinal structure and function in patients with chronic kidney disease

EXPERTS

Tilman Humpl, MD

Mira Araujo Klein, MAS

Claudia Studer, FA