Dena Marrinucci, PhD of Truvian
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Dena Marrinucci, PhD (co-founder and COO) of Truvian, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Truvian – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
In 2015, the founding team and I started Truvian to democratize blood testing by bringing a point-of-care blood diagnostic platform into distributed healthcare settings. Our goal is to make routine health testing convenient, affordable, and actionable for consumers.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
At Truvian, we are building the future of routine health testing with our benchtop blood testing system. Developing a novel product that addresses a critical market need within a highly regulated industry comes with obstacles, but our team has successfully overcome challenges before and will continue to do so together.
Building a company can be a difficult endeavor – from creating a solution that meets market needs to securing financing and hiring the right talent to scaling the organization and navigating a global pandemic, we relied on the entire Truvian team to get us through challenging times. I’m proud of our incredible team for committing to our mission and approaching unexpected road bumps with grit, courage, and a sense of humor. It’s never a dull moment in the land of start-ups.
What does the future hold for Truvian?
We are extremely excited about the future at Truvian as we continue working towards our submission to the FDA. Our goal is to empower consumers to walk into a clinic, complete their routine health tests in as little as 20 minutes using a small blood sample, and engage in a real-time conversation with their provider about what those results mean for their health.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in San Diego?
As one of the fastest-growing life sciences and tech innovation hubs in the nation, San Diego startups continue to see increased venture capital investment dollars. With top-tier academic institutions like Scripps Research, the University of California San Diego, and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, we have access to world-renowned experts across fields such as diagnostics, therapeutics, genomics, medical devices, and more. San Diego’s collaborative start-up ecosystem provides an incredible community for entrepreneurs. And lastly, the surf and sunshine are great perks!
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
- Take the time upfront to frame how your business will make an impact – think big, while ensuring that your solution addresses an unmet need in the market.
- Surround yourself with a best-in-class team and investors – great people can overcome just about any obstacle.
- Be intentional about building and sustaining an inspiring culture that encourages innovation and dialogue – embrace feedback because it’s an opportunity for you to address potential issues early.
- Enjoy the ride – patience and resilience are key along your path to success, as there will be many twists and turns along the way.