Senior Advisors

Helena Strigård
Founder | Senior Advisor

  • Helena Strigård founded Ventures Accelerated. Working with matchmaking of human capital made her identify a gap in the market, targeting business and investor relations using matchmaking intelligence and personal outreach through networks. 

    Helena has held leadership positions in the life science industry, including being the CEO of the industry organization SwedenBIO (owner of Nordic Life Science Days), where her legacy includes accelerating connections between the Nordics and global life science hot spots. She holds experience from running the pharmaceutical manufacturer NorthX Biologics, from multiple board positions in the industry, and as an advisor in the budget department of the Ministry of Finance. Previously, Helena had assignments at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, Business Europe in Brussels and Innovation Agency Vinnova. Helena has a background as an economist and holds a Master’s degree in molecular biotechnology.

Roger Lias
President of VA (U.S. Operations)

  • Dr. Roger Lias is a globally recognized expert in and advocate for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing and CDMO marketplace.

    Roger started his career during market making periods with Celltech/Lonza and Diosynth before joining founding management teams at KBI Biopharma, Cytovance Biologics and Eden Biodesign.

    More recently Roger has served as CEO at Stelis Biopharma and at Avid Bioservices (NASDAQ:CDMO) and has supported the rapid growth of Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services. He was instrumental in the sale of Vibalogics to Recipharm in 2022. Roger is currently Head of Global Biologics for professional advisory firm Kymanox, where he supports drives for accelerated development, risk mitigation and economically viable cost for traditional biologics and ATMPs. He serves in an advisory capacity in support of several industry groups and organizations.

Ragnar Strigård
CTO | Senior Advisor

  • Ragnar Strigård is an AI expert and systems architect specialising in digital transformation within the life sciences sector.

    At Ventures Accelerated, he designs and implements our data-driven Matchmaking platform that empower companies to accelerate research, optimise operations and make evidence-based decisions.

    Drawing on his experience in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and Industry 4.0 initiatives, Ragnar creates AI solutions that bridge technological innovation with practical business needs while ensuring scalability and performance. His expertise in developing tailored AI systems and optimising complex workflows helps ventures identify strategic partnerships and navigate market challenges. Ragnar's pragmatic approach consistently delivers solutions that provide immediate value while supporting long-term innovation in the life sciences industry.

Christina Herder
Senior Advisor

  • Drug development project leader in international and/or partnered teams. Extensive experience from business development. Now an independent business development consultant.

    Christina Herder has more 30 years’ experience of drug and corporate development. Primarily from development of therapeutics independent of geography and type of molecule, e.g. small molecules, biologicals, cell therapies.

    She is since 2009 Board of Director and Board member of several Scandinavian biotech companies, both private and public.

    Christina is an experienced business development leader, with a broad and general insight in current commercial conditions in the pharmaceutical industry in Europe and US. She has solid understanding of current financial drivers and challenges in the life-science industry.

    Education: Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry and, M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from KTH in Stockholm, MBA, Stockholm School of Economics.

Mattias Bodin
Senior Advisor

  • Mattias Bodin has more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry on the sales & marketing side, as well as MD.

    He has worked in large companies such as BMS and at Siemens-Elemas headoffice as well as for small companies and start-ups. He has a proven track record from tender business, starting and growing new businesses and launching new products (such as the first product for Alzheimer disease) on the Nordic markets.

    He was also the MD and one of the owners of Nortech Medical, a entrepreneurial fast growing company, that became the market leader within the public defibrillator business as well as an independent service partner in the medtech business. They received the DI-gasell award 3 years in the row.  

    Lately he was the MD and co-founder of Migränhjälpen, in the start a digital caregiver that also evolved to include a physical clinic at Karolinska hospital in Solna. In that role he raised money in a couple of rounds and has since then good connections in the Business angel and VC area.

    He is also part of the LSI network, Connect and Sciety. Now he also invest in start-ups in Life science and has board positions.

Jonas Ekstrand 
Senior Advisor

  • A distinguished Dr. of Medical Sciences from Karolinska Institutet, Jonas Ekstrand brings extensive international experience across both public and private sectors.

    Over the past 3,5 decades, Jonas has held pivotal roles as an academic scientist, Director of Biology, CEO, entrepreneur, and key opinion leader.

    His groundbreaking research on mutant EGF-receptors in malignant brain tumors led to the discovery of a tumor-specific deletion variant (EGFRvIII), advancing the understanding and treatment of brain cancer. His contributions have also supported the development of pharmaceuticals benefitting patients globally.

    In his tenure as Director General for SwedenBIO, Sweden’s Life Science Industry Organization, Jonas Ekstrand championed industry growth, expanded international collaboration, and advocated for life science innovation.

    He is also the co-founder of Nordic Life Science Days, northern Europe’s largest and most influential life science investment, partnership, and networking event.

Andreas Hallbert
Senior Advisor

  • Andreas Hallbert is an experienced art director, creative director, and graphic designer with a proven track record in visual identities, marketing communication, and result-driven design. His career began at leading advertising agencies, where he developed a keen eye for creating designs that deliver measurable results and resonate with audiences.

    Later, Andreas founded Leif, an agency specializing in visual identities and marketing strategies, and in 2012, he established Greatland – a design studio with a clear focus on tailored visual concepts, brand identities, and financial communication. Over the years, Greatland has also developed a strong specialization in the life science sector, helping companies communicate complex ideas through clear, engaging, and visually compelling design.

    With over a decade of experience producing annual and sustainability reports for both large listed companies and smaller businesses, Andreas has a unique ability to simplify complex information into narratives that are both accessible and visually striking. His design philosophy is defined by simplicity, clarity, and ingenuity, ensuring that every visual solution is not only aesthetically pleasing but also purposeful and user-friendly.

    Andreas is known for his curiosity, solution-oriented mindset, and deep understanding of the power of design to drive meaningful communication. He believes that strong design should not only look good – it should work, engage, and make a difference.

Management & Associates

Olesia Karvetskaia
Chief Operational Officer

  • Olesia Karvetskaia is a Stockholm‑based life‑science enthusiast currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Bioentrepreneurship at Karolinska Institutet, where she serves both as class representative and as Corporate Relations Manager on the university’s Business Committee.

    Beyond campus, Olesia connects Sweden’s next generation of scientists with industry through her role as Vice Chair of Synapse Sweden, a nationwide non‑profit network for life‑science students. She also sharpens her commercial acumen as a Junior Investment Analyst at Ventures Accelerated, evaluating early‑stage therapeutics and diagnostics ventures across the Nordic region and mapping financing trends in the sector.

    Trained as a biomedical scientist, Olesia earned her bachelor’s degree with honours in Biomedicine from the Russian State Medical University. Combining scientific rigor with a passion for finance, she strives to bridge research, entrepreneurship, and investment to accelerate innovative healthcare solutions in Sweden and beyond.

Rebeca Varela Lores
Investment Associate

  • Rebeca holds a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from Karolinska Institutet and is now pursuing an MSc in Bioentrepreneurship, focusing on bridging scientific research with business strategy and innovation in the healthcare sector. She is actively engaged in connecting academia and industry through her role as an AstraZeneca Campus Ambassador and mentee in the company’s mentorship program, where she develops skills in industry insights, leadership, and corporate strategy.

    Before joining Ventures Accelerated, she worked as a Business Development Associate at an early-stage start-up, supporting market research, competitor analysis, and stakeholder engagement to drive strategic decision-making.

    Her international experiences, including a research internship in Singapore and an Erasmus exchange at Leiden University, have strengthened her global perspective and adaptability. Combined with an entrepreneurial drive, this underpins her commitment to accelerating impactful healthcare innovations across the Nordics and beyond.

Ombeline Ragoucy
Investment Associate

  • Ombeline is currently pursuing her MSc in Bioentrepreneurship at Karolinska Institutet with a background in Medical Sciences from the University of Exeter. Her work sits at the intersection of science, healthcare innovation, and venture investment. Through experiences at Sanofi, bioMérieux, Symcel, and Segulah Medical Acceleration, she has developed expertise in medical affairs, market and clinical analysis, and early-stage MedTech investment, supporting technology evaluation and data-driven decision making.

    With an international background spanning Europe, North America, and Asia, Ombeline brings a multicultural and interdisciplinary perspective to healthcare innovation. She is particularly interested in translating scientific advances into impactful products through strategic analysis, venture building, and investment in emerging life-science technologies.

    At Ventures Accelerated, she contributes to strengthening precision partnerships and investor relations, helping connect scientific innovation with the Nordic life sciences investment ecosystem.

Ferrari
Chief of Culture

Advisory Board

Johan Bloom
Advisory Board Member

  • Digital health is an area that Johan Bloom has followed and actively invested in since it took off in 2015.

    After 9 years in the pharmaceutical industry during the 1990s, Johan founded Add Health Media in 1999 and after a number of acquisitions, the opportunity for investments in digital health was opened up.

    Johan has a large network in digital health, the pharmaceutical industry and among investors.

    Curious and passionate about everything in health and medicine with a little extra focus on exercise and the mystery of aging.

    Johan has a B.Sc. in chemistry from Uppsala University.

Johan Hyllner
Advisory Board Member

  • Dr. Johan Hyllner, PhD, is currently a senior advisor to several academic and industry organisations and hold board positions at Gothenburg University and Stemsight Oy.

    Johan is a world leading expert in cell and gene therapies, and enabling technologies with expertise ranging from basic research to commercialization of these advanced cell-based products.

    Prior to being an executive director at AstraZeneca 2019-2024, Johan was a C-level executive in five companies in the cell therapy area and built these into successful International businesses. Between 2013 and 2018, he held the position as CSO of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult Ltd in London, a UK Government initiative. In addition, Johan was part of building Cellartis, Cellectis, SQC Lab and Vitrolife into thriving entities.

    Johan was Professor in Engineering Biology at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Linköping University in Sweden for 12 years and has published more than 60 peer reviewed, full-length articles and a dozen books/chapters.

Tara Heitner
Advisory Board Member

  • Dr. Tara Heitner is a seasoned life sciences business developer and entrepreneur with a proven track record in building and supporting biotech ventures. She has co-founded multiple biotech startups in Scandinavia and provided expertise to numerous biotech and pharmaceutical companies in areas such as business development, market research, IP optimization, R&D strategy, fundraising, licensing, negotiations, and alliance management. Dr. Heitner is skilled at bridging the communication gap between research and development (R&D) teams and business stakeholders and between biotech and pharma.

    Dr. Heitner's career began with a solid foundation in R&D. She earned a PhD in Chemistry from McGill University in Canada and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in therapeutic antibody discovery and engineering at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She then embarked on a global industrial career, alternating between R&D roles in big pharma and small biotech companies including  Merck KGaA, Ferring, Schering (Berlex), HiFiBio SAS, Galecto AB, Forendo Pharma, Immunitrack ApS, Cymab ApS and many others. She has been board member in Abarceo Pharma  AB  and Tikomed AB previously.

    In 2005, Dr. Heitner moved to Denmark, continuing her work in R&D before transitioning to business development in 2014. This shift was supported by her MBA from the Danish Technical University (DTU) in 2014. Since then, she has served as the CEO and Principal of Heitner Biopharm Consultation, where she has successfully supported over 12 companies globally in R&D and IP strategy, fundraising, scouting, negotiation of pharma partnerships and licensing deals. Dr. Heitner is Canadian currently living in Denmark and working globally.

Mark Quick
Advisory Board Member

  • Mark Quick is a Partner at Flerie whom he joined in 2022,

    He has worked in the pharma industry for around 30 years for companies including Medeva, Celltech, UCB and Recipharm gaining extensive experience in senior commercial roles in business development and supply chain management.  A large part of his career was spent leading the M&A activities of Recipharm where he completed over 25 transactions, acquiring and divesting businesses in both private and public settings. He also served on the Executive Committee prior to joining Fleries. In addition to his role at Flerie, Mark holds board positions at several portfolio companies, including AnaCardio, A3P, Bohus Sweden, NorthX, Microbiotica and Empros Pharma, where he contributes to drug development and commercial growth initiatives.

    He earned a degree in Industrial Studies from Nottingham Trent University and an MBA from the Open Business School. 

Tracy Humphries
Advisory Board Member

  • Tracy Humphries is a marketing director in genomic sciences. She has worked in clinical and life sciences for over twenty-five years with experience of laboratory management, business development and sales, product management and marketing. Tracy is an experienced professional, who has worked across multiple segments, such as clinical development, clinical diagnostics, molecular biology and genomics, on a global basis.

    Tracy started her career as a scientist, after completing a biology degree from Portsmouth University, quickly moving to laboratory manager roles. She then used this experience to step out into the commercial arena of clinical and life sciences. She has spent several years working in commercial functions such as sales, business development, product management and marketing and this experience enables the ability to drive voice of the customer throughout product and marketing strategy, and to identify and address gaps within commercial strategy to accelerate funnel and revenue generation.

    Recent roles within Cytiva, Beckman Coulter, Azenta Life Sciences and Eppendorf, have involved building successful marketing strategies for new business areas, increasing brand awareness and customer engagement as part of new business development. During these roles she has completed a CIM diploma in professional marketing and an MBA from Cranfield University.

Anders Månsson
Advisory Board Member

  • Anders Månsson, BSc/MBA, has a strong background in the life science industry, having held senior executive positions in large multinationals as well as CEO and board level roles in smaller biotech companies.

    He has served as an Industrial Advisor in the Life Science area to a large cap Private Equity company and he is currently CEO of Phase Holographic Imaging AB and also Member of Board of EQL Pharma AB (public) and of seed capital investment company, Immetric AB.

Joe Pannetta
President Emeritus Biocom

  • Joe Panetta is a strategic and people-focused leader with a proven record of driving growth and transformation across sectors. Having served as CEO and in senior executive roles in government, start-ups, global corporations, and non-profit organizations, he brings deep experience in achieving both financial and strategic outcomes. Panetta's global business perspective stems from partnerships and initiatives across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

We are a hardworking team that fuels innovation, accelerates ventures, and turns bold ideas into success.