Jim O'Connell

Jim holds an MBA from the Wharton School, where he led the University of Pennsylvania's $70K Business Plan Competition and received a fellowship in healthcare entrepreneurship. Jim received a BS in biochemistry from Virginia Tech, where he served as class president for four years.

Jim has over 20 years of operational, financial and entrepreneurial experience in the life sciences. Jim is CEO and Co-Founder of Envara Health, a venture-backed startup in healthcare/foodtech. Previously, he was Principal at Safeguard Scientifics, where he helped source and lead investments in several companies, including Syapse, Quantia Communications (acquired by Physicians Interactive) and Alverix (acquired by Becton Dickinson). During business school, Jim completed internships at Quaker Partners, Commons Capital and Liquidia Technologies in business development. Prior, he held operating roles at two successful startups (Biosite Diagnostics--acquired; Chemdex/Ventro--acquired) and a F500 medtech firm (Becton Dickinson).

Jim is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 12 and served his fellowship under mentors Gary Kurtzman and Jim Datin at Safeguard Scientifics.