Health & ITC Accessibility pitching competition

Speakers

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  Neha Tanna M.D Chief Operating Partner, Ataraxia VC
  

  Neha Tanna M.D

  Chief Operating Partner, Ataraxia VC

  Neha is an investor at Ataraxia VC, focussing on the Science and Technology of Health and Happiness. Her investment areas include Life Science and Health, Food and Sustainability. Neha is a medical doctor in London. Neha spent years as a General Practitioner before transitioning to the Life Sciences industry, where she held various roles in pharmaceutical companies. She holds an MBA from London Business School, where she fell in love working with entrepreneurs and startups. She has since worked with a startup med-tech company, as well as several accelerators and VCs in the healthcare space, most recently with a global venture builder with a focus on early-stage tech companies. Neha is an angel investor, loves tennis and dance, and is a strong advocate for personal fitness and nutrition. She also has a soft spot for wildlife and conservation.

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  Heather Kipnis Sr. Operations Officer - Global Lead, Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Business, IFC
  

  Heather Kipnis

  Sr. Operations Officer - Global Lead, Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Business, IFC

  Heather leads the Women’s Entrepreneurship and Inclusive Business Programs for IFC’s Gender and Economic Inclusion Group. In this role, she oversees the development and delivery of client solutions for the private sector that support the growth of women entrepreneurs and inclusive businesses in emerging markets, with the goal of unlocking opportunities for increased profit, growth and innovation. Additionally, she leads global product development, partnerships, and research for new advisory and investment solutions that support women entrepreneurs, and low-income populations.

  Heather brings 15 years of experience in international development and financial services across Latin America & the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East. Prior to IFC, Heather led the programs and educational activities for a network of 75,000 women-led small to medium enterprises and held positions in impact investing and private wealth management. Heather has served as an advisor for the Aspen Institute’s ANDE Gender Inclusion Learning Lab, and the Global Impact Investing Networks (GIIN) gender-lens investing initiative and is currently a member of the 2XCollaborative Steering Committee. Heather has an MBA in Global Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor’s of Science in Decision and Information Sciences from University of Florida.

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  Mira Charkawi Startups Lead, Seedstars
  

  Mira Charkawi

  Startups Lead, Seedstars

  Mira is the Startups Lead at Seedstars organizing all the sourcing and screening campaigns of the acceleration programs across MENA, LATAM, Africa, Asia and CEE. She is also a Product Owner of the Opportunities Hub, a platform designed to connect entrepreneurs with suitable programs and competitions. Prior to that, she worked as the Community & Events Manager in the MENA region leading on organizing various pitching and training events in addition to interacting with the most active startup ecosystem builders in each country, from corporates to governments, startups, mentors, and investors. Mira worked as community builder for the Seedstars network in the region, meeting with key local players, and further playing a role in the overall business development.