Cécile Dupont, Sofinnova MD Start Partner, selected as In Vivo Rising Leader

Cécile Dupont, Partner in the Sofinnova MD Start Strategy, was selected as one of In Vivo’s Rising Leaders, which is a list of “entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world who represent the next wave of creativity in healthcare.”

In Vivo’s Medtech Editor, Ashley Yeo, wrote a profile of Dupont that could also serve as a primer for how an innovative medtech incubator works. Sofinnova MD Start is the VC firm’s accelerator for medical devices and Cécile is part of the unique team of serial entrepreneurs who run it.

Cécile has taken on C-suite roles at three of Sofinnova’s medtech start-ups since 2019. She is currently the CEO of BrightHeart, which is developing an AI-enabled system to better identify congenital heart disease during fetal ultra sound exams. She had previously been COO of Gradient Denervation Technologies, developer of a device that treats pulmonary hypertension, and remains President of HEPTA Medical, which is working on a device that enables a minimally invasive way to treat early lung cancer via percutaneous ablation.

The article goes on to describe how Sofinnova MD Start selects disruptive medical technologies that form the basis of the companies the incubator creates. A big part of this is the outlook for CE marking and U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance, one of Dupont's many specialties.

“Speaking to the FDA is the means by which we ensure that we are not developing something that will later be rejected,” said Dupont, whose role involves planning the company’s development and managing expenses while preparing for the next fundraising. The Sofinnova name and track record is a big help in highlighting “our expertise and the value we bring to the company,” she added.

The rewarding part, Dupont noted, is “being involved in projects that have a direct impact on patients’ lives.”

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