Ventured Growth with Hercules Capital

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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:

• Leading Akcea through IPO and pivotal drug launches
• The massive underfunding of research into women’s health 
• Mentoring and elevating women in biotech leadership
• Building purpose-driven executive teams
• What’s next in in vivo genomic medicine
• And more…
  
  
  

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. 

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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:

• Applying AI to sleep and biometric data
• From product-market fit to global expansion
• How Eight Sleep is solving for menopause, snoring, and temperature regulation
• Leading a capital-efficient team of 100
• Nick’s personal journey from banking to scaling a hardware brand
• And more…

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.

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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, M.G. 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. M.G. 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:

• How M.G. pivoted from investment banking to startups
• What makes a modern CFO indispensable to a startup’s success
• The founding vision behind Coterie CFO
• Building trust and transparency with CEOs and teams
• The evolving role of the CFO in a tech-driven world
• And other topics…

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.

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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:

• Wonder's evolution from mobile kitchens to a hybrid brick-and-mortar and delivery model
• The challenges of competing in a crowded market and differentiating Wonder's offering
• The role of AI in personalizing food recommendations and creating a seamless user experience
• Building a strong team and culture to support rapid growth
• Wonder's future plans for national expansion and a potential IPO
• And other topics…

Kelley 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, Kelley 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.

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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:

• The rise of AI in financial services compliance
• How Behavox uses AI to spot financial crime
• Why AI makes financial monitoring better
• Strategies for retraining compliance teams in the age of AI
• Behavox’s future plans for expanding into transaction screening and policy management
• And other topics…

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.

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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:

• Key trends and strategies in biotech/pharma M&A
• Challenges in valuing early-stage biotech companies
• Pharma’s evolving role in funding and scaling biotech innovations
• Future outlook for healthcare partnerships and acquisitions
• Stephen’s insights on the future of healthcare M&A
• And other topics…

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.

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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's transition from institutional investing to corporate venture capital
• The founding story of CVS Ventures and its impact on healthcare innovation
• CVS Ventures’ investment strategies and focus areas
• The role of corporate venture capital in shaping the future of healthcare
• Vijay's vision for the future of healthcare technology and innovation
• And other topics...

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.

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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:

• Overview of the "No Patient Left Behind" movement and its objectives
• Examining communication challenges within the drug industry
• The pivotal role of insurance in enabling patient access and affordability
• Strategies to maintain support for innovation amid pricing concerns
• Potential solutions to bridge the gap between innovation and affordability

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.

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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:

• Overview of venture debt and its importance
• Detailed look at negotiation processes in venture debt
• How legal and business issues intertwine in these negotiations
• The importance of strategic foresight in financial planning
• David’s perspectives on the future of venture debt

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.