About
Our interdisciplinary team has decades of expertise in building life-sciences-focused companies. We believe the optimal team is paramount in forming a successful business.
Meet Our Team
Previously VP and Head of Late Phase Strategy & Development Group, Oncology at Pfizer. Former head of early cancer detection at Guardant. Previous roles at Bayer and various health systems. BS, PharmD, Purdue University.
Leena Das-Young
Managing Partner
Previously, Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Expert on cancer prevention, obesity, inflammation & biomarkers. MD, Washington University in St. Louis.
Andrew Dannenberg
Partner
Tim has 30 years of experience leading strategic and financing transactions across multiple sectors and is an active healthcare investment banker. He has helped to form and finance a number of healthcare start-up companies and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from UCLA.
Tim Opler
Capital Partner
Michael provides support from origination to exit, advising on capital raising, structuring, and strategic considerations. Michael has a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Michael Friedman
Executive in Residence
Ernest supports ideation, diligence and fundraising for therapeutics companies in Emerald’s portfolio. Previously interned with Timberwind Capital Partners. Received a BA in Economics from Cornell University.
Ernest Li
Senior Associate
Manages finances and investments for Emerald. Formerly in a management role at Wells Fargo. Received a degree in Accounting from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Catherine Smith
Head of Finance
Tony is a biotechnology professional with a strong interest in company building, innovation, and the commercialization of life science technologies. Previously worked in Dr. Carl June's Lab on CAR-T cell therapy. Received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in Cellular and Molecular Biology.
Tony Liu
Analyst
Manages daily operations and administrative functions for Emerald. Received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Media Studies from Fordham University.
Annabelle Seeliger
Office Manager
Meet Our Advisors
How Our Approach is Different
Starting from scratch, we look at difficult medical issues like neurodegenerative diseases, breast cancer, heart failure, or the obesity epidemic and ask “How can one best intervene to positively impact these diseases?”
In other cases, we will encounter a new technology or scientific innovation and then begin an ideation phase to find how to best use it for the benefit of patients.
Clinical Advisor
Yves Duroseau
Chair and VP Emergency Medicine Service Line, Lenox Hill, Northwell Health. President of the Medical Board, Lenox Hill Hospital. Appointment in Medicine at Hofstra University. MD, MPH from George Washington University.
Scientific Advisor
Sebastian Hogl
Expert on biologics development, in particular process development, manufacturing, and supply chain management. Experienced in protein engineering and proteomics. Worked at Pieris Pharmaceuticals, MorphoSys and Sandoz. Ph.D., Biochemistry, International Max Planck Research School.
Advisor
Ellen Porges
Former Partner and Deputy General Counsel, Goldman Sachs. Previously at Sullivan & Cromwell. JD, Yale Law School, Managing Editor, Yale Law Journal; Clerkship on Second Circuit.
Advisor
Niral Shah
A serial surgeon-entrepreneur with unique vantage at the intersection of medicine, innovation and entrepreneurship successfully launching and scaling early-stage technology and life science companies. Having founded and exited two companies and advised a number of others, Niral brings a proven track record of translating clinical insight into commercial success and guiding startup teams from ideation through exit. Medical training at Weill-Cornell & Harvard University, and MBA from University of Michigan.
Advisor
Mark Simon
Mark Simon has over 30 years of experience in life sciences investment banking. He co-founded Torreya Partners and previously led biotech banking at Citigroup and Robertson Stephens. Mark contributed to the IPO of Genzyme and serves on the board of Portage Biotech, and as an advisor to Sun Pharmaceutical Industries. His expertise spans oncology, CNS, and metabolic diseases.
Scientific Advisor
Richard Ulevitch
Professor of immunology and Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Immunology at The Scripps Research Institute. His career is marked by a number of seminal scientific discoveries in the field of innate immunity. Formerly a venture partner with 5AM Ventures and the Lombard Odier Immunology Fund. PhD in Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania.
