Innovator Stories
Elizabeth Nelson is Lever’s Challenge Coordinator–but she’s also a startup founder and a biomedical engineer…and more.
As Challenge Coordinator, Nelson’s job is to work with companies as they make their way through Lever’s accelerated Challenge program, which helps startup founders and their teams focus their pitches, find solutions to their problems, and offers them access to experts and mentorships. “It’s just fun to watch people flourish,” she said. “The more people can share resources, the better off the whole network is–I want success for everyone, and I will do whatever I can to help with that.”
Innovator Stories
Meet Elizabeth Nelson
Elizabeth Nelson is Lever’s Challenge Coordinator–but she’s also a startup founder and a biomedical engineer…and more.
As Challenge Coordinator, Nelson’s job is to work with companies as they make their way through Lever’s accelerated Challenge program, which helps startup founders and their teams focus their pitches, find solutions to their problems, and offers them access to experts and mentorships. “It’s just fun to watch people flourish,” she said. “The more people can share resources, the better off the whole network is–I want success for everyone, and I will do whatever I can to help with that.”
Nelson went to the University of Pennsylvania for biomedical engineering, and got her PhD in mechanical engineering and material science from Duke. Early in her career, she worked at medical technology company Becton Dickinson, entering through BD’s leadership program. She spent time as a staff engineer in the strategic innovation group and then ran its leadership development program, adding human resource skills to her portfolio.
In that role, she helped identify small startups working in the med tech space, creating patents, and helping structure companies for future growth. “That gave me a feel about startup culture and the life of a startup,” she said.
Nelson has worked on 11 patents for medical technology over the course of her career relating to bone fractures, breastfeeding, and even medical waste disposal. She worked on a glucose monitor project that gave her firsthand with the handoff from R&D to manufacturing. “By the time I left BD, I had enough in my portfolio to be dangerous,” she joked. “Because I dabble in so many pieces and parts, that has helped me be able to ensure what’s being developed is aligned with all functions.”
Nelson first worked with Lever as Director of Research and Development for Northeast Biomedical. She was on a team participating in one of Lever’s COVID challenges, which sought to help companies develop health and safety solutions during the pandemic. Since then, she’s also launched her own startup, Mother’s Milk is Best, which manufactures a device that concentrates breast milk, making it easier for mothers to feed premature babies during a vulnerable time. (MMIB just secured a $1.8M SBIR loan, and she shared her experience with that process on MFN, too.)
Nelson said she loves the startup world and working with founders through Lever’s challenges. She’s currently working with finalists for the Berkshire Sustainability Challenge. “I love building that community. It doesn’t matter what kind of tech they’re developing,” she said. “One of the things we ask is, ‘what help do you need?’” I can draw from my network to have folks come in and speak directly to the teams about what they need–that is really powerful.”
Nelson went to the University of Pennsylvania for biomedical engineering, and got her PhD in mechanical engineering and material science from Duke. Early in her career, she worked at medical technology company Becton Dickinson, entering through BD’s leadership program. She spent time as a staff engineer in the strategic innovation group and then ran its leadership development program, adding human resource skills to her portfolio.
In that role, she helped identify small startups working in the med tech space, creating patents, and helping structure companies for future growth. “That gave me a feel about startup culture and the life of a startup,” she said.
Nelson has worked on 11 patents for medical technology over the course of her career relating to bone fractures, breastfeeding, and even medical waste disposal. She worked on a glucose monitor project that gave her firsthand with the handoff from R&D to manufacturing. “By the time I left BD, I had enough in my portfolio to be dangerous,” she joked. “Because I dabble in so many pieces and parts, that has helped me be able to ensure what’s being developed is aligned with all functions.”
Nelson first worked with Lever as Director of Research and Development for Northeast Biomedical. She was on a team participating in one of Lever’s COVID challenges, which sought to help companies develop health and safety solutions during the pandemic. Since then, she’s also launched her own startup, Mother’s Milk is Best, which manufactures a device that concentrates breast milk, making it easier for mothers to feed premature babies during a vulnerable time. (MMIB just secured a $1.8M SBIR loan, and she shared her experience with that process on MFN, too.)
Nelson said she loves the startup world and working with founders through Lever’s challenges. She’s currently working with finalists for the Berkshire Sustainability Challenge. “I love building that community. It doesn’t matter what kind of tech they’re developing,” she said. “One of the things we ask is, ‘what help do you need?’” I can draw from my network to have folks come in and speak directly to the teams about what they need–that is really powerful.”