Jessica Owens

Jessica Owens is a venture capitalist, scientist, and serial entrepreneur, serving as co-founder and general partner at Initiate Ventures, a female-led firm focused on investments in life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Owens began her career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, followed by advanced studies in cancer biology at Stanford and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She transitioned into venture investing at Kleiner Perkins, where she contributed to the formation and funding of several life sciences companies, including Navigenics, Arresto BioSciences, and Veracyte.

Owens is known for co-founding GRAIL, a cancer detection company, where she led business and commercial strategy, secured major partnerships, and helped raise over $1 billion in capital before its $8 billion acquisition by Illumina. She also founded Spark Diagnostics, a digital health platform acquired by Opya, Inc., and contributed to the creation of Invitae through her work at Genomic Health. Her expertise includes company incubation, investment banking, equity research, and R&D finance, providing a perspective on both the scientific and financial aspects of healthcare innovation.

Owens has appeared at events such as Aspen Ideas: Health, sharing insights on venture capital, resilience, and the future of precision medicine. Her leadership at Initiate Ventures includes supporting founders with strategic and operational guidance alongside capital investment. Owens' experience in building and scaling companies, navigating complex challenges, and driving industry deals positions her as a recognized figure in healthcare entrepreneurship and investment.