Cris De Luca

Cris De Luca is a Partner at Sanofi Ventures, where since 2020 he has created and led the firm’s global AI and Digital Health investment strategy. He brings 20+ years of experience in dealmaking, building startups, scaling emerging technologies, and creating innovation platforms for some of the world’s largest organizations. Previously, Cris was a founding member of Johnson & Johnson Innovation, serving as Global Head of Digital Innovation where he held chief digital responsibilities across J&J’s 250 operating companies in Pharma, Consumer, and Medical Devices. Before that, he spent six years at Novartis, leading emerging technology programs within Research Informatics. An entrepreneur at heart, Cris co-founded Ultra Light Startups, the largest startup–investor pitch accelerator in Boston and New York, with additional chapters in Silicon Valley and London. ULS accelerated 700+ early-stage startups, with 26% securing angel or venture capital funding and multiple exits to companies such as Apple, TripAdvisor, and Singapore Telecom. Cris serves on the boards of QuantHealth, Carbon Health, Empatica, Nucleai, Medisafe, Click Therapeutics, Omada Health, and Aetion, and advises organizations including the American Telemedicine Association, SXSW, and the Boston University School of Public Health Innovation Council. Passionate about sports science and player health innovation, Cris also advises professional sports leagues such as NFL 1st and Future (health innovation program) and soccer/football clubs on AI-powered injury prevention using cutting edge health technologies. He holds an MSc in Computer Information Sciences from Boston University and a BS in Business Administration & E-Commerce from Suffolk University. His work has been recognized with awards including Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Innovator and MM&M’s Top 40 Healthcare Transformer.