Diana Shapiro
Fractional CEO/COO
Interim CEO
Guides companies through critical growth stages, establishing clear objectives and delivering strong results.
Fractional COO
Optimizes operations for private equity and venture capital-backed companies.
Startup Scaler
Leverages 21+ years of experience to scale startups into multi-million dollar enterprises, focusing on commercializing AI, biotech, and healthcare innovations.
Expertise
With over two decades of experience, I transform cutting-edge AI, biotech, and healthcare research into successful, fast-growing businesses. I guide new deep tech products from concept to market leadership by combining scientific insight, strategic business acumen, and operational excellence to drive tangible revenue growth and market penetration.
1
Strategic Leadership & Growth
I successfully launched and scaled 3+ new AI products for diagnostics and personalized medicine, boosting revenue by 300% and generating over $26M in sales within five years. Additionally, I raised over $8M in venture capital for early to mid-stage healthcare AI and biotech startups, accelerating their product development and market entry.
2
Technical & Market Integration
I expertly bring advanced AI solutions to market, including AI for early disease detection and predictive patient outcomes. I navigate complex regulatory environments like FDA clearance and HIPAA, ensuring scientific findings align with real patient needs. I've forged key partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Pfizer, Novartis) and top research institutions, accelerating tech adoption.
Research to Market
I spearheaded the complete process of commercializing new research, transforming innovative concepts into market-ready products. I ensured compliance with all patent and legal regulations, facilitating rapid product launches without compromising quality.
Technical Guidance
I guided technical teams in developing new technologies that precisely met market demands. My objective was to bridge scientific discoveries with practical applications, delivering effective solutions with tangible impact.
Healthcare Technology
I possess deep expertise in critical healthcare technologies, including brain stimulation, AI diagnostics, and clinical decision support tools. I have a strong track record of successfully managing stringent approval processes, such as FDA clearance.
Enterprise Solutions
I developed and expanded robust enterprise software and AI solutions. I designed and implemented strategies for launching and enhancing these systems, ensuring consistent business growth and maximum returns, particularly within the tech and healthcare sectors.
I cultivate team environments where innovation is both technically sound and strategically astute, significantly accelerating product time-to-market. This approach consistently drives rapid revenue growth while safeguarding intellectual property and long-term objectives.
Awards & Accomplishments
Industry Awards
Recognized by Gartner for breakthroughs in healthcare AI with our innovative diagnostic platform, and named a leader among Red Herring Top 100 Global companies for our significant impact on personalized medicine.
Market Innovation
I led the successful launch of new devices for chronic pain and advanced genomic sequencing platforms that reduced diagnostic times by 40%.
Startup Growth
I mentored over 5 early-stage deep tech startups, including those in advanced robotics and personalized treatments, guiding them to successful initial product launches and Series A funding.
AI & Biotech Leadership
A visionary leader with over two decades of experience in driving AI and biotech innovations to market within the healthcare sector. Consistently transforming complex research into practical solutions that accelerate drug discovery and enhance clinical diagnostics.
Technical Acumen
- MIT-certified in AI Business Strategy, focusing on ethical and effective AI deployment.
- Holds two patents (issued/pending) for AI diagnostic tools and personalized treatments.
- Extensive knowledge of AI tools for medical decisions, diagnosis, and predicting outcomes.
Commercial Strategy
- Leads AI projects that deliver clear returns, evidenced by a 15% reduction in diagnostic errors and a 20% decrease in R&D time.
- Manages successful teams from concept inception to market realization.
- Leverages market needs and competitive intelligence to rapidly develop impactful products.
Technical Translation
- Excels at articulating complex AI/biotech concepts to executives, investors, and non-technical audiences.
- Aligns engineering and research teams with overarching business goals and sales targets.
- Enhances cross-functional communication between technical and business development teams for improved collaboration.
Strategic Partnerships & Go-to-Market
An executive with over twenty years of experience in forging pivotal partnerships and orchestrating successful product launches in healthcare, AI, and enterprise technology. Adept at driving significant growth by cultivating robust networks and navigating challenging market dynamics.
Core Expertise
- Partnership Development: Established over 20 critical partnerships with major healthcare systems and leading insurance providers, in addition to securing multi-year defense contracts.
- Market Strategy: Directed successful market entry and expansion for advanced AI platforms, earning Gartner "Cool Vendor" recognition (2021) and achieving over 30% market share in clinical AI diagnostics.
- Go-to-Market Planning: Designed and executed comprehensive launch plans for complex healthcare products, skillfully navigating intricate regulations for seamless market integration.
Key Accomplishments
- Developed impactful healthcare partnerships that improved partner hospitals' operations by 40%.
- Secured multi-million dollar defense contracts for advanced AI tools in maintenance and medical imaging.
- Increased healthcare sales by 25% year-over-year through targeted customer outreach.
- Successfully guided three new AI medical devices through stringent FDA approval processes, ensuring market readiness.
- Helped raise over $50M in Series A and B funding rounds by leveraging a strong investor network.
- Launched six highly successful products, consistently surpassing adoption and revenue objectives.
New Business Models & Markets
I specialize in pioneering new business models and expanding into new markets, particularly within healthcare AI, enterprise AI, and the burgeoning biotech sector. My objective is to transform novel ideas into sustainable revenue streams.
Developing Business Models
- Designing and implementing innovative SaaS (Software as a Service), subscription, and usage-based business models.
- Identifying untapped markets and executing aggressive market entry strategies.
- Developing sophisticated sales and pricing frameworks, including value-based pricing.
Healthcare & Enterprise AI Market Plans
- Leading the deployment of AI systems to enhance diagnosis and patient outcomes.
- Managing projects to integrate AI capabilities into medical devices.
- Applying value-based pricing and guaranteed performance contracts for enterprise AI solutions.
- Guiding AI medical devices through rigorous FDA approval steps.
Key Achievements & Impact
- Developed personalized medical AI, increasing patient engagement by 30% and annual recurring revenue (ARR) by 25%.
- Grew a unique fractional executive consulting model, aiding early-stage companies in raising over $50M in Series A funding.
- Led a significant shift to a tech-driven service model (SaaS + franchise), boosting sales from $100K to $26M in three years.
- Successfully entered two new international markets for enterprise AI, expanding the customer base by 15% in the first year.
Credentials
Education & Training
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Management - Isenberg School of Management, UMass Amherst
- USF I-Corps Fellow - NSF I-Corps Hub: Mid-South (2025)
Commercialized deep tech research for biotech diagnostics.
- Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) - Prosci (2023)
Skilled in structured change methods for large organizational transformations.
- Artificial Intelligence in Business Strategy - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2020)
Program on using AI for competitive advantage.
Areas of Expertise
- Technology Commercialization: Launching and scaling innovative products from research to market.
- Organizational Leadership: Building strong teams and leading complex organizational transformations.
- Strategic Management: Crafting long-term business plans and growth strategies.
- AI Implementation: Developing and applying AI solutions in business operations.
- Biotech Sector Expertise: Deep knowledge of the biotech market, specializing in therapeutics and diagnostics.
- Healthcare Technology: Utilizing advanced technology to improve healthcare delivery and efficiency.
Diana combines a strong business foundation with specialized tech training, enabling her to drive successful commercialization in healthcare, AI, and biotech.