National Finale Judges

Ali Gates is the Director of National Health Tech and AI Initiatives at the American Heart Association, bringing extensive experience in AI, digital health, and strategic product development. He previously served as the Founding and Lead Product Manager at Elemy, driving the company's valuation to over $1 billion in two years. Ali also led AI strategies at the CDC, including the COVID-19 contact tracing app collaboration with Apple and Google. An MIT alumnus, Ali has founded successful ventures like Claim it! Inc., and has a history with Google in New York City. His personal projects, such as the award-winning "U; Good?" and "How We Feel" apps, underscore his commitment to leveraging technology for social good. Originally from NYC, Ali now resides in Houston, TX, with his family.

Dr. Candice Carpenter is a seasoned physician and healthcare innovator with nearly 20 years of experience across leadership, consulting, academia, and public health. She is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of The Boston Congress of Public Health, a nonprofit focused on health justice, and the Founder and CEO of Medflixx, a healthcare technology startup. Dr. Carpenter also serves as an Adjunct Professor at California State University Channel Islands and has held the role of Co-Editor-in-Chief for The Boston Congress of Public Health Review. Her extensive background includes prestigious fellowships at UCLA, Harvard, and Oxford, and she holds advanced degrees from Yale, Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Cincinnati.

Vickram Pradhan is a Vice President at Sopris Capital, an early stage healthcare focused venture capital and growth equity firm. Mr. Pradhan joined the firm in 2018 and has been involved in principal investing since 2016. Mr. Pradhan currently serves on the Board of Directors at HealPros and BEKHealth. Prior to joining Sopris Venture Capital, Mr. Pradhan was an Analyst at Arcadia Investment Partners, where he focused on private equity, real estate and special situations investments across a variety of industries. Outside of the office, Mr. Pradhan serves as a Young Ambassador for the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation. Mr. Pradhan graduated with a B.S. in Finance and B.A. in Mathematics from New York University. Originally from the Chicago area, Mr. Pradhan currently resides in Miami, FL.