Our new episode features Dr. Misti Ushio, Managing Partner at Digitalis Ventures. Prior to joining Digitalis Ventures, Dr. Ushio was the founding CEO of TARA Biosystems, which was acquired by ValoHealth in 2022. TARA Biosystems was spun out of Prof. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic’s lab at Columbia University and Prof. Milica Radisic’s lab at the University of Toronto. TARA developed physiologically relevant 3D cardiac tissue models for cardiac risk assessment and drug discovery applications. Previously, Dr. Ushio served as Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director of Harris & Harris Group, where she advised and invested in life sciences companies. Dr. Ushio has also held management roles at Merck & Company, where she developed vaccines and biological products, and Columbia Technology Ventures, where she managed the intellectual property of several scientific and engineering portfolios. She has also served as a Director on the boards of private and public life sciences companies. Dr. Ushio holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University, and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from University College London.

In this episode we discuss with Dr. Ushio her career journey, highlighting her entrepreneurial experience at different companies and entrepreneurial stages. We also discuss the foundation, growth, and acquisition of TARA Biosystems, the field of biotech generally, and the transition to a career in Venture Capital.

Digitalis Ventures is a venture capital firm with headquarters in New York City. They invest in solutions to complex problems in human and animal health and support entrepreneurs, scientists, and inventors in their entrepreneurial ventures.