Ryan Ramkhelawan

I am a seasoned entrepreneur and venture development professional with a successful track record in the medical device industry. I have taken two startups through FDA clearance, market launch, and growth, and successfully navigated one to acquisition. In 2018, I joined Start Co. as Director of Acceleration and was promoted to VP of Venture Development in 2020. In this role, I am responsible for identifying investment opportunities for accelerators, building innovation systems for universities, city governments, and associations, teaching lean startup principles, and serving as an executive coach to new CEOs. Recently, I was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to advise the Biden administration on innovation and entrepreneurship and co-founded Lasting Machine Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on medical innovation. My achievements in business and clinical sectors have earned me recognition, including being a founding member of the Forbes Technology Council; a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council; a graduate of the world’s top VC emerging manager program; and selected by Harvard Business School for the 2022 Young American Leaders Program for U.S. competitiveness. Additionally, I have been recognized in the Memphis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, received the National Vascular Recognition Award, and was selected by the Americas Competitiveness Exchange in 2022 to serve as a U.S. Delegate in Ecuador.