Sami Inkinen

Sami Inkinen is an entrepreneur whose career spans nuclear physics, real estate technology, and healthcare innovation. Inkinen holds a Master of Science in engineering physics from Helsinki University of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. He previously held roles at Microsoft, Nokia, and McKinsey & Company, after starting his career at a nuclear power plant in Finland. Inkinen co-founded his first company, Matchem, a mobile software business in Finland, which he sold before relocating to the United States.

Inkinen was the co-founder of the online real estate marketplace Trulia, serving as chief operating officer, president, and board member through its initial public offering and subsequent sale to Zillow Group. He played a key role in scaling Trulia into a major real estate technology platform before its acquisition by Zillow.

Following his work in real estate technology, Inkinen shifted his focus to healthcare after discovering he was pre-diabetic. He co-founded Virta Health, where he serves as chief executive officer. Virta Health is an online specialty medical clinic focused on metabolic disease reversal, including type 2 diabetes and obesity. The company leverages nutritional biochemistry, data science, digital tools, and clinical expertise to shift the diabetes treatment paradigm from management to reversal. Virta Health has been recognized by TIME100 Most Influential Companies and has appeared on the CNBC Disruptor 50 list. The company collaborates with hundreds of organizations and provides coverage to millions of Americans.

Inkinen is also known for his achievements as an endurance athlete, including being a triathlon age-group world champion and completing the Hawaii Ironman World Championship multiple times. He founded Fat Chance Row to raise awareness about the dangers of sugar and its connection to diabetes, rowing unsupported from California to Hawaii and setting a world record. Inkinen often draws parallels between startup leadership and athletic training, emphasizing the importance of developing multiple identities to maintain mental and emotional wellbeing.

Inkinen has argued that metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease share a common root cause in poor nutrition. Virta Health’s annual report on metabolic disease reversal documents the outcomes achieved through the company’s AI-powered individualized nutrition therapy. Inkinen continues to contribute to the intersection of technology and human health, advocating for innovative approaches to metabolic health and disease prevention.