Laura Velásquez is the Co-founder and President of Arkangel AI , a Colombia-based deep tech company pioneering intelligent models for early diagnosis of cancer and rare diseases, and equitable healthcare access. She is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging innovation for global impact. Laura is among the finalists for The Aurora Tech Award 2025, an annual award launched by inDrive to support the most innovative and trailblazing women founders from across the globe. Laura has also been recognized by Forbes on their 2024 “30 under 30” list, is a TEDx and One Young World (OYW) speaker, as well as a Stanford University scholarship recipient. Passionate about empowering women in tech across Latin America, she actively builds communities that foster female leadership in AI and healthcare.
Can you tell us a little about your background and your company? I never imagined I would co-found a company centered around AI and healthcare, especially since I didn’t know how to code, or have any medical background. But when I lost three of the most important people in my life within a month and a half due to delayed critical healthcare, I knew I had to act. That pain fueled my mission to understand the gaps in healthcare and create a solution that would prevent others from suffering similar losses. Arkangel AI was born out of this sense of purpose. Our B2B solution transforms unstructured data from hospitals and health insurers into high-value insights, making early disease detection 6 times more efficient and 12 times faster. Today, our impact extends across 22 countries, with 90 million predictions made.
What inspired you to start your business? The grief and frustration of losing loved ones due to preventable healthcare delays drove me to take action. I wanted to create a system where no one else would have to suffer simply because a disease wasn’t detected in time. This personal loss became the foundation of Arkangel AI’s mission: to democratize access to early diagnosis and ensure timely interventions for all, regardless of location or economic background.
How did you create awareness for your brand? Building Arkangel AI’s presence involved a combination of strategic partnerships, thought leadership, and storytelling. We secured collaborations with industry leaders such as AstraZeneca, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and Roche, positioning our technology as a transformative force in healthcare. I have also used my platform as a TEDx and OYW speaker to advocate for AI-driven healthcare solutions, amplifying our message across LATAM, the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Additionally, being recognized by Forbes and engaging with global startup ecosystems helped strengthen our credibility and reach.
What strategies helped you secure funding and scale your business? Our growth was fueled by three key strategies. Firstly, we placed a strong focus on establishing credibility by securing clinical validation and partnering with over 300 hospitals and pharmaceutical leaders such as Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Johnson&Johnson. Secondly, we ensured that our solution was not just innovative, but also commercially viable by designing a B2B model that transforms unstructured medical data into actionable insights. Lastly, we made sure to build out and leverage our network through initiatives like Stanford’s Scaling Program and Google’s startup acceleration program. This provided us with access to mentorship, funding, and strategic growth opportunities that helped us expand into new markets.
What have been your biggest successes so far? Our impact speaks for itself: 305 hospitals onboarded, 68 million lives impacted, and expansion into Brazil and Mexico to enhance early diagnosis in oncology, female health, and rare diseases. Additionally, achieving 90 million predictions across 22 countries and collaborating with global pharmaceutical leaders has solidified our position in the industry.
What challenges have you faced, and how did you overcome them? One of the biggest challenges was shifting my mindset to navigate an industry I initially knew nothing about. Overcoming imposter syndrome and learning about AI and healthcare from the ground up required resilience, mentorship, and continuous education. Another challenge was structuring AI commercialization in a highly regulated industry. We tackled this by focusing on strategic partnerships and securing clinical validation to demonstrate our technology’s value.
What are your plans for the future? Our goal is to impact 1 billion people within the next 10 years, by increasing healthcare accessibility and integrating AI into existing health systems. We are also evolving Arkangel AI into a global virtual agent that assists healthcare professionals in early diagnosis and clinical decision-making. Expansion into Brazil and Mexico is just the beginning—we aim to scale globally and enhance our AI capabilities further.
What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?
I would tell them the things that work for me: build a mindset where everything is possible; stay curious – it fuels creativity and helps keep you in the present while having fun; and never compare yourself to others, but instead, believe in your own authenticity.
What are your top three tips for entrepreneurial success?
Three things that have challenged me to grow and become better include adopting the ‘anything is possible’ mindset—the impossible just takes a little longer to achieve—and sharing this mindset with my team. I also think it’s important to constantly question what you do and why you do it. Defining my own purpose has helped me to break free from autopilot mode, where it’s easy to get stuck. Lastly, I’d recommend founders learn to do more with less, focusing on efficiency and what truly drives growth and value.
Who are five people who inspire you the most, and why?
- My co-founder, Jose Zea, inspires me with his balance of living with purpose, staying authentic to his beliefs, and turning complex ideas into simple solutions. He has helped me to believe in myself in ways I never knew before.
- Leonardo da Vinci is another inspiration; he was a genius who always inspires me to believe that anything is possible and that the diversity of thought and knowledge is a must for innovation.
- Shakira inspires me as an artist who gives her all. I admire her ability to embrace fear, insecurity, and challenges and turn them into opportunities. What amazes me most is how writing and music serve as her greatest therapy and a tool for healing. Beyond that, her intelligence and diverse knowledge allow her to create value in every aspect of her life.
- Oprah Winfrey inspires me in the way she merges business and impact to create change, and how the power of her voice influences the most essential aspects of human nature.
- Steve Jobs inspires me with his mind—the way he built communities and created everything with authenticity. I deeply admire how he saw opportunities in challenges and how his story has taught me to connect the dots.
What are your favorite inspirational or motivational quotes?
“The difference between winning and losing is not giving up.” Walt Disney
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