ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow

Job Description

The ELITE Entrepreneurial Fellow serves as a key commercialization contributor within Penn's healthcare innovation ecosystem, advancing high-potential technologies developed across Penn and CHOP toward translation, licensing, or venture formation.

Under the joint leadership of Venture Lab and Penn Health-Tech, the Fellow functions as the entrepreneurial lead for a vetted health-tech capstone project. In this role, the Fellow conducts market discovery, engages directly with clinicians and end users, assesses product and regulatory pathways, evaluates intellectual property considerations, and develops go-to-market strategies.

This is a full-time, limited-term position that is contingent upon funding. The position is for one (1) year, with the possibility of extending for one (1) additional year, subject to review after the first year. The start date for this position is August 1, 2026.

Specific Duties

Entrepreneurial Leadership (Capstone Execution)

• Lead the commercialization strategy for assigned Penn or CHOP technologies by developing and executing structured project plans spanning unmet need validation, value proposition refinement, market analysis, and strategic prioritization.
• Conduct stakeholder discovery across clinicians, patients, technical teams, investors, and end users to inform product requirements, workflow integration, and early go/no-go decision-making.
• Perform market analyses, competitive assessments, workflow evaluations, and early financial modeling to guide product direction and commercial feasibility.

Regulatory, IP, and Translation Support

• Coordinate with Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), PCI Ventures (PCIV), CHOP's Office of Technology Transfer, and external consultants to support IP landscape evaluations, invention disclosures, and patent-related activities, and execution of recommended regulatory and reimbursement strategies.

Go-to-Market Strategy and Communication

• Develop high-quality commercialization materials, including pitch decks, milestone-based budgets, commercialization plans, proposals, and fundraising briefs.
• Prepare and deliver clear, persuasive presentations to leadership, faculty, partners, and investors.

Program and Ecosystem Engagement

• Engage with key stakeholders across Venture Lab, Penn, and CHOP at events, seminars, workshops, and meetings.
• Participate fully in all Fellowship elements, including workshops, didactics, mentorship sessions, investor meetings, and cohort activities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree (e.g., MS, MBA, MPH), doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PhD), or equivalent training in business, engineering, life sciences, public health, clinical fields, or related disciplines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with demonstrated interest in health innovation or technology commercialization.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and collaborate within cross-functional, fast-paced environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• A range of 2-5 years of professional, technical, consulting, clinical, entrepreneurial, or research experience in health-tech, medical devices, biotechnology, digital health, or related healthcare and/or technology sectors.
• Experience in early-stage innovation, design, prototyping, consulting, venture analysis, regulatory strategy, technology transfer, or startup formation.
• Familiarity with commercialization processes, including market research, IP evaluation, or regulatory considerations.