Elsa Swanson Sareen

About Elsa Swanson Sareen

Business builder who excels at understanding stakeholders needs, translating design inputs into tangible solutions, and exploring new business models, all with the goal of delivering an optimal solution for all stakeholders. Startup founder, inventor, and entrepreneur with a passion for finding and engaging value chain players throughout the innovation process. Founded a medical device company and led company as CEO carrying product from concept phase to commercialization, selling company to venture-backed medical device manufacturer. Design thinker and ethnography practitioner with the ability to lead others in identification of customer pain points and unmet needs. Draws on empathic mindset and engineering skills to formulate and test winning value propositions in a broad range of new market spaces. Strong performer in both corporate and startup environments, with experience translating needs between both environments in the spirit of advancing collaboration.

Experience

1. Vice President - Gfrp Fund

   Big Idea Ventures

   Jan 2023 — Present

   The Generation Food Rural Partners (GFRP) fund commercializes university-developed intellectual property focused on food, protein, and agriculture innovation. We launch new companies, recruit seasoned management teams, and provide support from inception alongside our university and strategic partners. Learn more at: https://bigideaventures.com/generation-food-rural-partners/

Education

• Columbia University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biomedical/Medical Engineering

  2012 — 2014

• Scripps College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

  2009 — 2012

Skills

• Matlab
• Medical Devices
• Image Analysis
• Laboratory
• Start-Ups
• Program Management
• Algorithms
• Analysis
• Editing
• Management
• Microsoft Word
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Statistics
• Regulatory Submissions
• Leadership
• Project Management
• Immunohistochemistry
• Microsoft Office
• Research
• Strategic Planning