Dr. Bender, a successful serial entrepreneur, has provided the strategic vision and leadership for 4 high-tech companies that achieved technical leadership and growth to enable their sale at a good return for the VC and angel investors. During his career, Dr. Bender has raised 10 rounds of venture capital totaling more than $150M. He has proven successes in: business strategy; operations; technology; sales and marketing; and raising capital.

Dr. Oberhardt has led and/or participated in a number of first-of-a-kind technological developments including “CoaguChek” and founded Cardiovascular Diagnostics: a successful IPO. The “CoaguChek” is a medical device that provides a systematic approach to anticoagulation management, focused at the point of care.

Dr. McCord is an Associate Professor with appointments in the Department of Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science at NCSU, Raleigh, the Joint UNC/NCSU Department of Biomedical Engineering, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC. She has 15 years of experience in development and characterization of medical textiles, and has been active in consulting for the medical device industry

Dr. Joy is an accomplished translational researcher having spent the last 20 years as a researcher and clinician in nephrology, pharmacology, and pharmaceutics. Dr. Joy spent the last 16 years at UNC where she was an Associate Professor of Nephrology and Pharmacy. She currently maintains an Adjunct position with the UNC Kidney Center. She recently relocated to the University of Colorado to accept a faculty position in Nephrology.