Jacky Chan, Venture Fellow
"I think one of the most overlooked opportunities is the infrastructure. ... Most of the attention goes to the breakthrough drugs and devices, but those innovations can't be successful without the systems that support them."
Jacky Chan, Venture Fellow
Jacky Chan: Getting Under the Hood
What first pulled you toward the venture side of health and life sciences?
My interest in the venture side of health and life sciences began with my grandmother, a breast cancer survivor. When she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, her doctor was hesitant to put her through chemotherapy and traditional treatments because of her age. Instead, he recommended a newer targeted therapy that could treat her cancer while being gentler on her overall well-being. I became fascinated by the science, and also the journey of how new ideas and medical technologies are developed, funded, and brought to market.
That curiosity led me to an internship as a student venture analyst at a state fund. There, I saw firsthand how capital and hands-on support help founders turn promising research into products. The experience showed me that I could play a meaningful role in helping health and life sciences startups grow, and ultimately, in helping treatments like the one that helped my grandmother reach the patients who need them.
You're coming to this program from outside of the Philadelphia region. What made the Science Center and Philadelphia's life sciences and healthcare ecosystem the right place to be right now?
Philadelphia is growing rapidly, with new manufacturing facilities and companies choosing to build here. It's home to world-class research institutions and hospitals, and its location near Washington, D.C., New York, and other biotech hubs make it a natural connector. From support at the state and local level to organizations like the Science Center that help founders turn research into companies, there's momentum here, leading it to the right place.
You're running several workstreams this year, from portfolio embeds to a co-authored thesis on aging and longevity. Which part are you most excited to dig into?
I'm excited about both, because they complement each other. The portfolio embeds will give me hands-on experience working with founders and seeing the challenges of building a company. The thesis on aging and longevity is meaningful, and I want to understand how innovation can better serve the growing aging population. I think what I will learn from the founders will make my contribution to the thesis much stronger.
Where do you see an opportunity in health or medtech that you don't think enough people are paying attention to?
I think one of the most overlooked opportunities is the infrastructure behind healthcare and biotech, for example health fintech and biomanufacturing. Most of the attention goes to the breakthrough drugs and devices, but those innovations can't be successful without the systems that support them.
When you're sizing up an early-stage company, what's the first thing that gets you excited, and the first thing that gives you pause?
The first thing that excites me is the team, especially their passion and why they're building the company. Founders who are deeply connected to the problem tend to be more resilient. The first thing that gives me pause is the "how", that includes, the regulatory process, funding needs, and how they'll reach patients. Passion is important, but it needs to be backed by a realistic plan.
Complete the sentence, "A year from now, I hope to..."
A year from now, I hope to continue supporting life sciences and healthcare innovation, with a deeper understanding and a stronger network.