Adnan Mirza

Founder at Heartbeat Ventures

My experience and deep interests:

• Entrepreneurship

I am based in: Utrecht

I was referred to THNK by Mark Vernooij.

I am the founder of Heartbeat Ventures, an enterprise focused on realizing innovations in Life Sciences and Global Health that increase vitality and well-being while reducing the world’s economic burden of disease.

I have over 20 years of experience primarily in the Life Science and High-Tech sectors, both in corporate and advisory roles, having worked across five continents with a number of multinationals including Accenture, Alliance-Boots, DuPont, Genzyme, Halliburton, Johnson & Johnson, KPN, Nestle, Newell Rubbermaid, Philips, Ricoh, Salomon Brothers, UUNet and WorldCom – along with as earlier stage startups.

Since completing my MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management in 2006, I have been an advisor to numerous management boards in the areas of Innovation, Growth Acceleration, Go-to-Market Models, Portfolio Optimization, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Operating Company Turnarounds, especially in the emerging markets.

With a degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, I started my career in 1994 at an Investment Bank, specializing in the field of Information Security.  I thereafter joined an Internet Start-up and moved into management, helping grow the company through multiple acquisitions in Europe and greenfield operations in Latin America.

I have taken a few sabbaticals during my career and, among other adventures, worked as a Freelance Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor, logging over 2000 flying hours. I also founded the Pakistani National Gliding Team and participated in four World Championships, leading my team to place in the top-5 nations overall, and top-10 individually.