Recording: Fireside Chat with Jessie Becker Alexander (Founder Alydia Health)
In the startup world, success is often measured by the ability to solve complex problems and scale solutions. Jessie Becker Alexander, founder of Alydia Health, has done just that, transforming her vision into a company that sold for a staggering $240 million. She shared her inspiring journey during a fireside chat at Startup Grind Sacramento.
Alydia Health is a revolutionary medical device company that has taken on the major challenge of postpartum hemorrhage, a life-threatening issue that affects women worldwide, irrespective of geographical or economic boundaries. The company’s roots trace back to Alexander's time as a student entrepreneur at Cal Poly.
The road to Alydia's success was not straightforward. The company started with a humble initial funding round of $1.5 million, which was progressively increased as the startup met several key milestones. One significant breakthrough was achieving positive results in their clinical trials, which served as a catalyst for attracting further funding.
Throughout the journey, Alexander’s leadership was tested. She had to make tough personnel decisions, fine-tune the startup’s message based on market feedback, and juggle the responsibilities that come with a rapidly scaling startup.
Navigating the medical regulatory landscape was another key challenge. Alydia’s team tackled this by building a robust advisory board of medical experts, running rigorous clinical trials, and demonstrating the tangible value of their product to potential investors. The process required deep comprehension of the problem they were addressing, their innovative solution, and its nuanced value proposition.
One of the unique aspects of Alexander's journey is her experience as a female founder in a male-dominated field. She faced gender biases and struggled with imposter syndrome, but her strong determination and grit helped her overcome these challenges. She leveraged leadership training and found value in constantly refining her skills and perspectives.
Today, Alexander continues her entrepreneurial journey as a program director at Fourth Wave and the entrepreneur in residence at the Carlton Center. Her advice to fellow entrepreneurs centers on a profound understanding of the problem they are addressing and ensuring alignment of personal and company values with their investors.
Jessie Becker Alexander's story serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women in the tech industry. Her determination, combined with a focus on tackling globally relevant health issues, has truly made a difference in the world.
About Jessie Becker
Jessie Becker Alexander is an accomplished Entrepreneur in Residence at Sacramento State's Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, dedicated to fostering the vibrancy and growth of the entrepreneurial community in the Sacramento region. With a diverse range of responsibilities, Jessie excels in managing the student pre-accelerator, known as the Hivemind, overseeing the FourthWave Accelerator, and co-facilitating The Lean Innovator cohort.
Previously, Jessie made a profound impact as the founding CEO of Alydia Health, a groundbreaking medical device company focused on revolutionizing the treatment for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), the leading cause of maternal death worldwide.
Her exceptional leadership led to Alydia Health's acquisition by Organon in June of 2021, valued at an impressive $240M. Recognizing her remarkable achievements, Forbes honored Jessie by including her in their esteemed 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare in 2015.
Prior to her pioneering work at Alydia Health, Jessie played a pivotal role in igniting the entrepreneurial movement at Cal Poly. As one of the founding members of the Cal Poly Entrepreneurship Club and an integral part of the initial team at the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), she spearheaded the creation and implementation of various programs to empower student entrepreneurs.
With an unwavering commitment to innovation and an impressive track record of success, Jessie Becker Alexander continues to make a significant impact in the entrepreneurial landscape, driving positive change and inspiring future generations of innovators.
