The Human Touch in Tech: Cynthia Benjamin’s Story of Scaling Together Senior Health
Cynthia Benjamin, CEO and Co-Founder of Together Senior Health, takes us through her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, from the founding of her innovative healthcare startup to its acquisition by Linus Health. With a career that spans health, tech, and nonprofit sectors, Cynthia will share the key insights that guided her as she built a company dedicated to helping Alzheimer's and dementia patients live healthier, more independent lives at home.
In this fireside chat, Cynthia will explore the critical role of strong co-founder relationships, the delicate balance between cutting-edge technology and the human touch, and the challenges and rewards of securing both grant and private funding. She’ll also reflect on the MVP development process, team-building strategies, and navigating the complexities of healthcare innovation.
Throughout the discussion, Cynthia will emphasize the value of diverse career experiences in shaping an entrepreneurial mindset and offer key lessons on the power of continuous learning, perseverance, and intuition in building a successful business.
Opening Remarks @ 9:30am PT
Join us for opening remarks with Dina Wagner, Head of Member Success at Founders Network, to get the latest updates from the Network and opportunities for getting involved.
Keynote Speaker @ 9:40am PT
Cynthia Benjamin has a long and varied career, beginning in 1985 as a Product Design Engineer at IDEO Product Development. In 1989, she founded and became President of Samson-McCann, Inc. She later joined Strategic Decisions Group in 1998 as a Senior Engagement Manager, leading strategy and management consulting teams. In 2006, Cynthia took on the role of Director of Innovation at IMS Health, where she helped create a Big Data and Health IT growth platform. She also served as an Innovation Lab Principal and Global Process Lead, as well as a Principal in Strategy and Portfolio Analytics Consulting.
In 2014, she joined Thrive Foundation as Director of Design and Innovation, leading the foundation’s tool and resource development initiatives. Cynthia began consulting independently in 2016, focusing on Strategy, Innovation, and Impact. She became the CEO and Co-Founder of Together Senior Health in 2017, a leading digital therapeutic and community platform for individuals with Alzheimer’s or cognitive decline. Cynthia also teaches at Stanford University’s d.school, where she provides design and forecasting frameworks to innovators.
Cynthia holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, a MS in Mechanical Engineering/Product Design from Stanford University, and a BS in Product Design Engineering from Stanford. She also participated in Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education.
Stage-Based Roundtables @ 10:30am PT
Confidentiality Policy:
All information shared within Founders Network is strictly confidential. We are built on a foundation of trust, and the community takes confidentiality seriously. Investors, members, and staff all share experiences and opinions off the record. In this roundtable forum, we continue to model our fnValues of Reciprocity, Humility, Authenticity and Inclusivity.