name: Stephen Sammut, DBAstatus: activepriority: high
Stephen Sammut, DBA
Who
- Adjunct Associate Professor at Wharton (~30 years), taught 11,000+ students
- Created 8 courses including Private Equity in Emerging Markets
- Deep healthcare/biotech VC background: former venture partner at Burrill & Company (life sciences/healthcare merchant bank + VC), VP at SR One (SmithKline Beckman's VC arm), ran PE/VC at Teleflex
- Chairs Industry Advisory Board of Alta Semper Capital (PE impact fund, healthcare in Africa)
- Consulted for IFC and World Bank on PE, tech transfer, VC assessment
- Visiting faculty at Indian School of Business and Strathmore University (Nairobi) — designed healthcare management MBA programs at both
- Wharton MBA (finance + healthcare), DBA from Temple, undergrad Villanova (bio + philosophy)
- Certificates in fintech (Oxford), precision medicine (Harvard), global health innovation (IESE)
- smsammut@wharton.upenn.edu
Connection to Us
- Michael's Wharton VC professor (fall semester)
- Good mentor potential — Michael reached out, Stephen responded positively
- Knows healthcare + VC deeply — rare combination
Why He Matters
- One of the few people who understands both healthcare investing AND venture mechanics at a deep level
- 30 years of Wharton teaching = massive alumni network of people who took his class and are now in healthcare/VC
- Can advise on how investors will view DaisyAI — that's literally what Michael asked him for
- Global health lens is interesting but not core to our pitch — his VC pattern recognition is the real value
Interactions
| Date | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ~Jan 2026 | Email outreach | Michael reached out. Mentioned first customer (blue cross plan), beginning investor conversations. Asked to reconnect and get his thoughts on how investors might view us. |
| ~Jan 2026 | Email reply | Stephen: "Congratulations on your progress. Happy to connect but in peak-semester mode. Won't be able to see you until next month." |
| ~Jan 2026 | Email follow-up | Michael proposed Mon-Fri 1-5pm ET, week of 3/9-3/13. No confirmed time yet. |
Status
- Waiting to schedule — he said "next month" (March). Week of 3/9 proposed.
- Need to follow up to lock in a time.
Notes
- Positioned as mentor/advisor conversation, not a pitch. "Get your thoughts on how investors might view us."
- His VC class experience means he's seen hundreds of pitches — he'll have sharp feedback on positioning.