Bethesda, Maryland, October 29, 2025 – The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI), recognized as the globe’s inaugural Tournament’Challenge’Accelerator dedicated to converting publicly funded breakthroughs into impactful startups, is pleased to announce the appointment of three eminent new Board Members: Steven M. Ferguson, Sourav Sinha, and Vijay Lakshman. These appointments occur under the ongoing chairmanship of Nick Donofrio.
Collectively, these forward-thinking leaders will enhance CAI’s commitment to translating discoveries into significant achievements, connecting the realms of science, technology, finance, and ingenuity for the betterment of humankind.
Innovation | Acceleration | Transformation
Established in 2012 by Rosemarie Truman, CAI is fostering a fresh era of entrepreneurship, enabling innovative concepts to be executed with conviction and empowering diverse visionaries to emerge as leaders within their industries. For the organization and execution of its twelve successful challenges, CAI secured financial support from various entities, including the U.S. EDA’s Build to Scale Program, the Walton Family Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Resonance Philanthropies, The Brain Tumour Charity, Arnold Ventures, AstraZeneca, Heritage Provider Network, and the Avon Foundation.
Key achievements to date include:
Over 460 CAI Startups launched
More than $2.8 billion in capital secured by CAI Startups
Over 4,000 jobs generated by CAI Startups
More than 700 CAI Advocates (comprising startup mentors, advisors, and judges)
Over 150 global research collaborations
Spanning from institutions like NIH and NASA to prominent tech hubs like Silicon Valley and across America’s central regions, CAI has emerged as a driving force for purposeful innovation.
Our Model — Revolutionary
In contrast to traditional incubation, we aim to ignite. We have developed the world’s initial Tournament’Challenge’Accelerator, a rapid-paced structure designed to condense extensive periods of innovation into mere months of concentrated development.
Our process involves:
Accessing over 170,000 groundbreaking inventions
Establishing high-caliber startup teams worldwide
Educating them in the commercial aspects of science
Expediting their market entry with accuracy, dedication, and clear objectives
Securing funding!
Our methodology does not merely initiate new businesses; it establishes lasting impacts.
The Next Frontier
Leveraging its “Empire of Impact” (as coined by Sheri Sobrato) and benefiting from the insights and experience of its expanded Board of Directors, CAI is organizing the Future of Health Innovation Tournament Challenge (FHITC). This global, unified undertaking aims to foster innovative startups where biotechnology meets advanced computational methods.
Under the direction of CAI’s refreshed leadership, FHITC is set to expedite the development of solutions that contribute to health, connectivity, and human well-being. Concurrently, it will extend CAI’s acclaimed challenge-based accelerator framework into additional areas, such as:
Cell & Gene Therapy
Advanced Computing incorporating AI, Quantum Technologies, Machine Learning, and similar fields
Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, Diagnostic Tools, Digital Healthcare, Sustainability, and other emerging sectors
We invite:
Inventors prepared to commercialize their discoveries
Entrepreneurs keen to establish ventures that will transform the world
Investors & mentors who can catalyze significant advancements
Communities poised to generate employment, cultivate talent, and stimulate economic development
To register your interest or gain further insight, please visit
CAI Board of Directors
Nick Donofrio — Board Chair & Innovation Foundation
A forward-thinking engineer and internationally recognized technology expert, Nick Donofrio dedicated over forty years to IBM, advancing to Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology. He was instrumental in leading the team responsible for developing the initial computer chip.
As a distinguished member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a key advocate for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established under the CHIPS and Science Act, Donofrio persists in his role as CAI’s Chair and essential figure, promoting diversity, ethical conduct, and meaningful innovation.
New CAI Board Members
Steven M. Ferguson — Biomedical Innovation Leader, NIH
Steve Ferguson, serving as Special Advisor to the NIH Director, contributes more than three decades of leadership experience in the fields of biomedical innovation and technology transfer. His work has successfully transformed NIH discoveries into critical, life-saving treatments and FDA-approved products, collectively generating billions in commercial worth. Additionally, as a mentor and educator, he presides over the Technology Transfer Department at FAES Graduate School, where he nurtures emerging bio-entrepreneurs.
Sourav Sinha — Longevity Visionary and Biotech Strategist
In his capacity as General Partner and Head of Strategy at the Longevity Vision Fund, Sourav Sinha focuses investments on enterprises dedicated to prolonging healthy human lifespans. Recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, he was a co-founder of Oncolinx, a victorious participant in CAI’s Breast Cancer Startup Challenge. He continues to shape new approaches to innovation where aging, healthcare, and impact investment converge.
Vijay Lakshman — Gaming Pioneer and Serial Innovator
A creative innovator and an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Vijay Lakshman played a key role in developing the renowned Elder Scrolls franchise at Bethesda Softworks, establishing benchmarks for immersive digital narratives. As the Managing Director of Mindgrub Ventures, he has facilitated over $50 million in funding for founders and is currently leading endeavors that merge technology, education, and human capability.
CAI Leadership Team
Rosemarie Truman, Founder & CEO, established CAI following her role in overseeing global innovation strategy for fifty of the Fortune 100 companies, contributing to $384 billion in revenue expansion and $64 billion for IBM. She possesses 11 trade secrets related to due diligence and also co-founded Ignite Social Impact, a platform designed to broaden access to investment in social innovation. Her guiding principles are: Always Be Giving. Always Be Kind.
Dr. Cody J. Locke, Chief Innovation Officer, obtained his PhD in Neuroscience from the University of California, San Francisco, during which he was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. His studies concerning the genetic factors of epilepsy created a novel framework for comprehending cerebral function and pathology. Within CAI, he directs scientific and commercialization strategies, linking advanced scientific understanding with entrepreneurial drive to convert research findings into tangible global benefits.
Join the Movement
CAI persists in expanding its influence, converting innovations into meaningful outcomes, dedication into advancement, and inherent potential into actionable strength.
Explore to discover how CAI is actively shaping the future of innovation.
For the future is not merely an event; it is something we collectively construct.
ABOUT CAI
The Center for Advancing Innovation (CAI) operates as a worldwide public-private collaboration and a non-profit organization focused on expediting technology commercialization. Its objectives are to stimulate entrepreneurship, bolster economic growth, and fully realize the potential of innovative discoveries. CAI’s acclaimed challenge-based accelerator, stringent evidence-backed due diligence processes, and fiscally prudent, streamlined management approaches are designed to rapidly propel high-performing startups and achieve exceptional returns for investors. Further information is available at .
Media Contact
Center for Advancing Innovation
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9508 Burning Tree Rd
Source :The Center for Advancing Innovation, Inc