Who We Are

David Schaffer is Director of BBH and a faculty member in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. With degrees in both physical and life sciences, he’s perfectly positioned to co-lead an incubator designed specifically for bioconvergence startups. As a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded 8 companies and whose technology is being used in 9 human clinical trials, with 4 to date showing efficacy, he’s experienced and enthusiastic about helping startups thrive.

Susan Jenkins is managing director of the BioEnginuity Hub, and oversees Campus Programs at BBH. With extensive experience in academic research, management of interdisciplinary research institutes, and involvement with entrepreneurship programs, she’s involved with strategic planning and administration for BBH.

Regis Kelly is an advisor to Bakar Labs at BBH and former executive director of QB3. Drawing from his experience at QB3 helping to launch two companies, a life sciences startup incubator and a venture fund, he has strategically positioned the Bakar Labs to be the world-class comprehensive incubator for life science and bioconvergence startups.

Gino Segrè is managing director of Bakar Labs at BBH, overseeing all administrative operations of the incubator and selection and integration of startup companies. As a former incubator director with QB3 and more than 15 years experience working at established life science companies, he provides strategic and funding advice to startup companies.

Niki Borghei is a media communications specialist for BBH and the Bakar Fellows Program. She is passionate about using storytelling to bring people together at the convergence of academia and entrepreneurship. She highlights community stories on social media and through news publications and digital marketing campaigns.

Gail Christine Gannon is the CEO of Ensanté Tech for Good Advisors, a social enterprise advisory for tech startups, and faculty member at the University of California Berkeley, Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. She has 20+ years of experience helping entrepreneurs turn their great idea into market success. She has been instrumental in helping companies build to scale and to successful acquisition. Her most recent ventures include business coaching on behalf of the World Bank for the Republic of Georgia GITA, to helping startups establish commercial partnerships for ex-US companies. Previously, she worked with government and NGOs (e.g. PATH for the Gates Foundation), allocating health investment dollars to the most promising innovations.

Quelani provides high level administrative, operations, and program support to the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub and Bakar Fellows Program. She is a UC Berkeley Political Science alumni, and previously held event managing and administrative roles in the Department of Music, School of Optometry, and the Simons Institute. She also holds a master’s degree in Music from San Francisco State and continues to play violin with the Berkeley Symphony and Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera. In her spare time, she loves to travel and root for local Bay Area sports teams.