---

About

One Six 8 Ventures is a venture capital fund focused on early-stage Medical Technology companies tackling critical healthcare inefficiencies that cost lives. Our mission is to identify and back exceptional entrepreneurs developing solutions that fundamentally improve patient outcomes and create substantial market value. We maintain a disciplined focus on specific sub-sectors within MedTech where our deep domain expertise allows us to identify unique opportunities.
 
Our team brings a combination of hands-on operational leadership from scaled VC-backed MedTech and life sciences companies and disciplined financial stewardship from C-suite roles, built over nearly two decades in the industry. This allows us not only to conduct rigorous due diligence but also to actively partner with our portfolio companies post-investment. We provide strategic guidance and operational support, fundamental to navigating challenges, preserving capital, and accelerating growth towards market leadership.

THE TEAM

The One Six 8 Ventures team comprises seasoned operators and executives with deep roots in scaling VC-backed life sciences companies over nearly two decades. We act as hands-on partners to our portfolio founders, providing strategic guidance and support grounded in extensive industry experience. Learn more about our team below:

Judyanna Yu, CPA, CA

Managing Partner
CFO, Providence Therapeutics
CFO & COO, Restem Biotech 
CFO, Biochem Group
VP Corporate Finance, Cerecin
Health business entrepreneur​
​Previous: Manning Elliott LLP, KPMG, Auditor General of Alberta
Board, BioAlberta
Board, Pharmsky Research

Charles Stacey, MD, MBA

Operating Partner
President & CEO, Cerecin
Inventages Venture Capital ($1.5B AUM)
Orthopaedics and trauma surgeon in London
Medtech entrepreneur
​Board of Governors, Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs
​

Ankang Li, PhD, JD, CFA

Operating Advisor
CFO, CSO and Executive Director, Brii Biosciences
CEO, TSB Therapeutics
CFO, Terns Pharmaceutical
​Executive Director, Healthcare Investment Banking, Goldman Sachs,
BD Director, Merck,
Associate at Davis Polk, Ropes & Gray

Xi Qiao, MSc

Principal
Head of BD Commercial Evaluation, Fosun Pharma,
Consultant at Boston Consulting Group,
Pricing and Market Access Manager, AstraZeneca,
​Health & TMT Senior Consultant, Ernst & Young  
​

ADVISORS

Alden Aumann, CPA, CA

• Managing Partner, Manning Elliott LLP
• Serial entrepreneur and investor
• Private wealth firm founder
• ​Leader and mentor for SMEs

Neeraj Gupta

• Serial entrepreneur, angel investor, board member for startups/ NPO
• Co-founder of Lawcubator and FormulateIP, and Chief Advisor for Technology & Innovation at Invest Alberta
• Board member of Platform Calgary, Canadian Blockchain Consortium, Calgary Chambers, and TIDES
• Author of “Creating and Safeguarding a Strong Intellectual Property Portfolio”

​Jaspreet ​Grewal, MBA, MSc, CCRP

• Leader in clinical medicine, research and regulatory affairs, trained in Georgetown, Yale, Harvard and LSE
• Co-founder and CEO of AxialBridge, global life sciences advisory firm
• Board Director, entrepreneur in residence, and graduate program instructor

James Topham

• BC Innovators Hall of Fame
• Former KPMG Partner, former board of BC Tech
• Founder of Vancouver Social Venture Partners philanthropy group
• ​Board member, various biotech and tech companies
​

---

Entrepreneur

We deeply respect the entrepreneur’s driving innovation in MedTech. Bringing transformative ideas to life demands immense dedication – challenging established norms and often requiring significant personal sacrifice.

As experienced founders ourselves, along with having served as operators within VC-backed MedTech companies, we truly understand the complexities and pressures of your journey because we've lived it from multiple angles. We appreciate the commitment it takes.
​

Our Focus

One Six 8 Ventures partners specifically with early-stage MedTech companies. We seek exceptional entrepreneurs developing novel solutions designed to fundamentally improve patient outcomes and advance healthcare. If this describes your venture, we would welcome the opportunity to learn more.

How We Partner: More Than Just Capital

We know building a successful MedTech company takes more than funding. Leveraging our team's nearly two decades of direct industry experience as founders, operators, and executives, we provide active partnership through:

• Strategic & Operational Guidance: Tap into our collective experience – combining hands-on operational know-how with C-suite strategic perspective – for practical advice on navigating complex industry landscapes, refining strategy, building teams, and overcoming hurdles unique to MedTech.
• Network Access & Resource Connection: Utilize our extensive global network – connecting you with industry experts, clinicians, potential commercial partners, and specialized resources critical for regulatory, IP, or clinical trial success.
• Commercialization & Global Expansion Support: Draw on our first-hand experience launching products and navigating international markets to help develop effective go-to-market strategies and scale effectively.

​
We are committed partners focused on helping you build an impactful, market-leading company. If you're an early-stage MedTech founder looking for experienced partners who genuinely understand the founder's journey and the demands of building an early-stage company, let's connect.

Connect