Bio:
Dr. Leila Daneshmandi is an Assistant Professor in Residence of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Connecticut College of Engineering and Biomedical Engineering Department. She is also the Director of the Entrepreneurship Hub, leading initiatives to advance technology entrepreneurship.
Leila teaches technology entrepreneurship courses across Engineering, Business, and other disciplines, including Technology Innovation I & II, Entrepreneurial Skills, and Startup Strategy. She is the Principal Investigator for the Graduate Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program, the Master’s of Engineering in Global Entrepreneurship program, and the ThirdBridge Grant, supporting student entrepreneurs. As Co-Director of the pioneering Nursing and Engineering Innovation Center, she fosters innovation at the intersection of technology and healthcare.
Leila is the co-founder and COO of Encapsulate, a venture-backed MedTech company developing automated tumor-on-a-chip systems to personalize cancer treatment. The company has received national and international recognition from organizations including The International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory and Boeing, the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Europe Network. Encapsulate is conducting clinical studies with healthcare institutions and was named “Innovator of the Month” in 2024 by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. It has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal.
She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering and a Master’s in Global Entrepreneurship from the University of Connecticut. Recognized as one of Connecticut’s Top 25 Women in Business, she is also a two-time Women of Innovation Finalist and recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Scalable Venture.