Phoenix, AZ – XLR8 PBC, Arizona’s premier program for scale-ready health tech companies, is now accepting applications for its latest cohort. With a no-cost, no-equity structure, XLR8 PBC provides health tech companies with unparalleled access to industry leaders, mentorship, and strategic resources. Applications for the program are open until February 19, 2025, offering founders the opportunity to engage with a world-class team of mentors and position their ventures for accelerated growth.
This year’s XLR8 PBC cohort will benefit from the guidance of five accomplished mentors, each offering a wealth of experience in healthcare innovation, investment strategy, entrepreneurship, and talent development. Brian Ellerman, Executive Director of XLR8 PBC, has assembled a prestigious group of investors, advisors, and talent producers to expertly lead the chosen companies towards success.
“XLR8 PBC was designed to bridge a critical gap in Arizona’s health tech ecosystem. We’ve brought together an exceptional team of mentors who understand the challenges of scaling a company and have firsthand experience in navigating growth,” says Brian. “By connecting founders with industry experts, investors, and corporate partners, we’re ensuring they have the tools and relationships needed to succeed in a competitive market.”
Brian himself has 30 years of experience in health and technology, having founded or helped launch numerous companies. He spent 15 years at French pharma giant Sanofi, with his last five years in corporate strategy, where he built a global tech scouting and partnering team, working with startups, VCs, incubators, and accelerators worldwide. Brian led a global digital strategy assessment and implementation before moving to the University of Arizona and founding the FORGE entrepreneurial mindset unit. As Vice Chair of the Desert Angels, he continues to invest in startups and provide national thought leadership on risk capital. Brian holds multiple advanced degrees, including a Master of Legal Studies with a concentration in IP & Health Law. He joined ABOR/PBC in July 2024 and is working toward a Doctorate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education at ASU.
Noreen Scheu will serve as Mentor & Advisor Lead, coordinating the team of experts and the tools that support the selected companies, ensuring mentoring continues after the in-person program ends. She brings 25 years of expertise in pharmaceuticals and combination products, focusing on corporate strategy, competitive intelligence, and market analysis. Noreen spent 18 years at Upsher-Smith Laboratories in Minneapolis, and has most recently supported combination product and gene therapy startups such as Alcyone Therapeutics, Regel Therapeutics, and Cerebral Therapeutics, developing market valuation models and pitch slides for fundraising. She actively supports the Arizona startup ecosystem by advising early-stage companies through Tech Launch Arizona and the Flinn Foundation while volunteering as the Ambassador Lead at Venture Café Phoenix. Noreen holds an MBA from the University of Saint Thomas in Minneapolis and a Bachelor’s in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota, Morris.
Rich Genovese will serve as Talent Development Lead, evaluating participant talent needs and ensuring execution of the C-Suite Recruitment Pillar of the program. He is a recognized leader in talent strategy and executive hiring, having worked with biopharma giants Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Regeneron, Amgen, Becton Dickinson, and Medtronic. As the founder of Translational Talent, he specializes in C-suite talent planning, evaluating existing talent depth, identifying gaps, and executing solutions aligned with each company’s plans to scale. Rich has also served on thought-leader panels for the Human Capital Institute and published insights in HR Magazine on corporate talent acquisition strategies.
John Achoukian will serve as the Industry Project Lead, coordinating the scoping, positioning, and delivery of pilot projects while cultivating the pool of industry partners and ensuring execution of the Validation Projects pillar.
“As Industry Project Lead at XLR8 PBC, I’m excited to work with founders to connect them with growth-stage executives and enroll corporate partners to validate market fit,” says John. “Collaborating with our expert program consultants in mentoring, investment, and talent, we will ensure every founder leaves with a custom growth plan and connections that will help them reach their top potential.”
John joins the XLR8 PBC team with nearly two decades of experience specializing in market analysis, product-market fit, and healthcare innovation. His expertise includes regulatory compliance, infrastructure, policy implementation, and change management. He has worked with industry leaders such as United Health Group, Dignity Health, Accxenture, and MATTER as an Executive-in-Residence. John holds a Master’s in Healthcare Innovation from ASU and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Wayne State University.
Finally, Rick Kovach will serve as the Founder & Investor Lead working with founder/CEOs on investment pitches and organizing interactions with a curated pool of investors. He has served as President and CEO of multiple companies and held senior roles in medical devices, venture capital, consulting, and investment banking. Rick has held leadership roles at Unify Medical, ExsoMed, and Cayenne Medical. He holds a MBA from Case Western Reserve University and BSBA in Economics and Accounting from The Ohio State University.
Along with this dedicated team of mentors, over 30 business and industry experts have volunteered their time to the program. Participants selected for XLR8 PBC will have the unique opportunity to work with and learn from this remarkable group during the intensive 8-day, in-person program.
Applications for XLR8 PBC are open now through February 19, 2025. The program runs from April 8th – 17th in Phoenix, AZ.
Qualified health tech startups are encouraged to apply. For more information and to submit an application, visit XLR8 PBC.
Stay connected with the Phoenix Bioscience Core as we continue to create places, programs, and opportunities that spark innovation, fuel investment, and strengthen Arizona’s position as a national leader in bioscience and health tech.
About the Phoenix Bioscience Core
The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is a 30-acre life sciences innovation district located in downtown Phoenix. It hosts Arizona’s three public research universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—as well as leading genomics pioneers like the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, and the International Genomics Consortium. The PBC also collaborates with major healthcare systems, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Phoenix VA, and Valleywise Health, alongside a growing number of emerging life science companies. This unique concentration of research scientists and healthcare professionals fosters unprecedented collaborations, advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com
Media Contact:
Sharon Ducati, Communications Manager
sducati.pbc@azregents.edu