Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Lorraine Marchand, author of The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry , has three decades of experience in new product development and innovation commercialization. She is an Advisor to New York University Endless Frontier Labs, the START Program at Princeton University and international entrepreneurship programs. She teaches at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and advises Fortune 500 companies. Her new book, No Fear, No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation will be released by Columbia Business School press in February 2026.
Lorraine Marchand, author of The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry , has three decades of experience in new product development and innovation commercialization. She is an Advisor to New York University Endless Frontier Labs, the START Program at Princeton University and international entrepreneurship programs. She teaches at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and advises Fortune 500 companies. Her new book, No Fear, No Failure: Five Principles for Sustaining Growth Through Innovation will be released by Columbia Business School press in February 2026.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor. He is also the Managing Partner at the SparkLabs Cyber+Blockchain (Formerly AOL Fishbowl Labs), which is the premiere startup accelerator in the Washington DC area and he has helped raised more than $150M in funding for their portfolio companies (MHelpDesk, ThreatQuotient, Xmode, Urgent.ly, Curator, Airside Mobile).
He is the DC Chapter Director of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 2,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities.
Prior to Startup Grind, he has over 20 years professional experience in web/online/mobile product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch and has started three previous startups. He is on the board of Monte Jade DC and is the chapter director for Startup Grind DC.
He has been featured in Forbes as “17 Top Business Gurus to Follow” and other publications such as Washington Post, Huffington Post, Politico, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Washington Business Journal, and DCInno “50 on Fire” 2017 and 2018.
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Brian is a startup evangelist, advisor, and angel investor. He is also the Managing Partner at the SparkLabs Cyber+Blockchain (Formerly AOL Fishbowl Labs), which is the premiere startup accelerator in the Washington DC area and he has helped raised more than $150M in funding for their portfolio companies (MHelpDesk, ThreatQuotient, Xmode, Urgent.ly, Curator, Airside Mobile).
He is the DC Chapter Director of Startup Grind, which is one of the largest hi-tech startup communities in the world with over 2,000,000 startup entrepreneurs in 600 cities.
Prior to Startup Grind, he has over 20 years professional experience in web/online/mobile product development from AOL, Merrill Lynch and has started three previous startups. He is on the board of Monte Jade DC and is the chapter director for Startup Grind DC.
He has been featured in Forbes as “17 Top Business Gurus to Follow” and other publications such as Washington Post, Huffington Post, Politico, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, Washington Business Journal, and DCInno “50 on Fire” 2017 and 2018.
He has a BS in Information Systems/Policy & Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers.
He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums.
Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers.
Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs.
Mr. Wong has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23). He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine.
Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers.
He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums.
Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers.
Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs.
Mr. Wong has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23). He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine.
Dr. Timothy A. Akers, M.S., Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher and executive leader at the nexus of public health, epidemiological criminology, and quantum literacy. He serves as Chief Research Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Research at California State University, San Bernardino, and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NQLN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Across a career spanning academia, government, and the military, Dr. Akers has demystified quantum technologies by developing, along with his team, the first e-learning platform and micro-credential certification in quantum literacy education.
At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as a senior scientist and developed a cutting-edge HIV/AIDS biomedical and behavioral classification taxonomy. He is the originator of the emerging theory and discipline of Epidemiological Criminology and has authored two seminal books in the field. A former U.S. Air Force Security Police officer specializing in nuclear weapons security, Dr. Akers has conducted groundbreaking interdisciplinary research supported by the NSF, NIH, DHS, and other sponsors.
In 2020, he was appointed by the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy to a three-year term on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC); he has also served as vice chair at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focusing on the responsible conduct of research. Recognized internationally, he has published more than 268 scholarly works and received prestigious awards across the military, CDC, academia, and industry. An autodidactic innovator, Dr. Akers is the inventor on two patents in biomedical technologies for rapid clinical assessments using AI, as well as a cystic fibrosis vest that applies therapeutic wave frequencies to address respiratory congestion.
Dr. Timothy A. Akers, M.S., Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher and executive leader at the nexus of public health, epidemiological criminology, and quantum literacy. He serves as Chief Research Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Research at California State University, San Bernardino, and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NQLN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Across a career spanning academia, government, and the military, Dr. Akers has demystified quantum technologies by developing, along with his team, the first e-learning platform and micro-credential certification in quantum literacy education.
At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as a senior scientist and developed a cutting-edge HIV/AIDS biomedical and behavioral classification taxonomy. He is the originator of the emerging theory and discipline of Epidemiological Criminology and has authored two seminal books in the field. A former U.S. Air Force Security Police officer specializing in nuclear weapons security, Dr. Akers has conducted groundbreaking interdisciplinary research supported by the NSF, NIH, DHS, and other sponsors.
In 2020, he was appointed by the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy to a three-year term on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC); he has also served as vice chair at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focusing on the responsible conduct of research. Recognized internationally, he has published more than 268 scholarly works and received prestigious awards across the military, CDC, academia, and industry. An autodidactic innovator, Dr. Akers is the inventor on two patents in biomedical technologies for rapid clinical assessments using AI, as well as a cystic fibrosis vest that applies therapeutic wave frequencies to address respiratory congestion.
Brian Barnett is President of The Barnett Company, Inc., an advisory firm that equips leadership teams to sharpen vision and strategy, improve operations, launch new products and ventures and accelerate sales and profit growth. Over 30+ years in 42 countries Brian and his colleagues have led and advised organizations in agriculture, food, adjacent science-driven sectors, venture capital, IT and oil and gas services. Known for a collaborative, execution-focused approach that delivers measurable outcomes —The Barnett Company, Inc. brings C-suite rigor with extensive operational and cross-cultural experience. Brian received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Brian Barnett is President of The Barnett Company, Inc., an advisory firm that equips leadership teams to sharpen vision and strategy, improve operations, launch new products and ventures and accelerate sales and profit growth. Over 30+ years in 42 countries Brian and his colleagues have led and advised organizations in agriculture, food, adjacent science-driven sectors, venture capital, IT and oil and gas services. Known for a collaborative, execution-focused approach that delivers measurable outcomes —The Barnett Company, Inc. brings C-suite rigor with extensive operational and cross-cultural experience. Brian received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.