Kelly Collier

About Kelly Collier

I\'ve been a driving force in Pittsburgh\'s healthcare innovation ecosystem for more than 15 years, and I thrive at the intersection of entrepreneurship, investment, and ecosystem building.My career started with founding a medical device company spun out of Carnegie Mellon, taking it from concept through successful acquisition. That experience taught me what it really takes to build something from nothing, and it shaped how I approach innovation leadership today.What I do now:As Director of Ecosystem Development at LifeX, I lead strategy and execution for programs that accelerate life science startups. My team has supported 100+ companies, engaged 300+ industry experts, and secured millions in funding to sustain our mission. But really at the core of all that I do is helping entrepreneurs navigate the messy, uncertain path from idea to impact.What I bring to the table:Strategic execution in ambiguity: I excel at translating \"we should do something about this\" into concrete action plans that drive resultsEcosystem thinking: Whether it\'s building partnerships with universities and health systems or connecting startups to the right expertise, I see how pieces fit togetherOperator experience: I\'ve been in the founder\'s seat, scaled products, managed enterprise IT deployments, and evaluated venture investments. I\'ve had a front row seat to multiple sides of the innovation equationMy experience spans:Building and leading innovation programs (LifeX)Enterprise digital transformation and venture strategy (UPMC Enterprises)Product development and commercialization (elizur Corporation)Founding and scaling a medical device startup (ActivAided Orthotics)I\'m passionate about strengthening regional innovation ecosystems and creating pathways for healthcare startups to reach national and global markets. If you\'re working on something that could transform healthcare delivery or patient outcomes, I\'d love to connect.

Experience

1. Entrepreneur in Residence, Big Idea Center

   Office Of Innovation And Entrepreneurship

   May 2020 — Present · Pittsburgh, PA, US

   Coaching and mentoring Pitt students in developing and launching startups ideas, along with supporting events and programing at the Big Idea Center that fosters students\' entrepreneurial spirit.

Education

• Carnegie Mellon University

  Bachelor of Science, Materials Science and Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Minor in Business Administration

  2007 — 2011

Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Financial Modeling
• Market Research
• Business Development
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Biomaterials
• Marketing Strategy
• Competitive Analysis
• Start-Ups
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Business Strategy
• Management Consulting
• Strategy
• Biomedical Engineering
• R&D
• Entrepreneurship
• Product Management
• Venture Capital
• Product Development
• Materials Science