Investing In Life Sciences with Judyanna Yu and host Catherine Gray Ep. 473

Today on the Invest In Her Podcast, host Catherine Gray interviews Judyanna Yu, Founding Partner of One Six 8 Ventures. Judyanna is a seasoned finance executive and venture capitalist with nearly two decades of experience as a CFO across VC-backed public and private medtech and biotech companies. Based in Calgary, she leads One Six 8 Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on high-growth medtech opportunities in active M&A markets, with a particular emphasis on under-ventured regions. Drawing from a global career that spans eight cities across North America and Asia, Judyanna brings deep expertise in capital formation, financial governance, and scaling breakthrough technologies with real-world, life-saving impact.

In this episode, Catherine and Judyanna explore what it takes to evaluate and scale transformative medical technologies, the importance of disciplined financial leadership in venture-backed companies, and how global networks can accelerate innovation beyond traditional venture hubs. Judyanna shares insights from her transition from CFO to fund founder, discusses the role of physician and operator-led diligence in medtech investing, and offers perspective on how founders can position themselves for sustainable growth and successful exits. The conversation also highlights the critical need to support innovation in overlooked markets and how intentional capital deployment can bring world-changing healthcare solutions to a global stage.