XLR8 PBC is celebrating the completion of its first hands-on internship program. Throughout the program, interns gained real-world experience in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment, with many stepping into startup operations for the first time. Their contributions spanned program operations, marketing and social media, research and analysis, and community engagement, directly supporting the growth and momentum of Arizona’s emerging health innovation leaders.
Taking a closer look at the projects the interns completed, they conducted market research and customer interviews to validate user needs for an upcoming product launch for ReSuture. For NeuroCatch, they created financial modeling and pricing analyses for growth plans, conducted market research on brain health technologies and the competitive landscape, analyzed research on neurological clinical use cases and patient pathways, and supported refining NeuroCatch’s integration into real-world clinical workflows. By working closely with CEOs throughout the program, XLR8 interns benefited from candid mentorship and behind-the-scenes exposure to the realities of building early-stage health innovation companies. These conversations helped interns connect their hands-on project work to broader business strategy, leadership, and long-term impact.
We are excited to announce that the XLR8 PBC Intern Program is returning for the next cohort! If you are interested in becoming an XLR8 PBC intern, please apply here: Applications will close Thursday, February 26, 2026!
Before the next cohort is introduced, we present to you the F25 Cohort Interns! See what they have to say about their experience below.
Major: Business Data Analytics & Supply Chain Management
School: W.P. Carey School of Business & Barrett
What did you gain most from the three Open Days in October?
The Phoenix Bioscience Week in-person sessions offered a strategic view of how health
innovation evolves from concept to execution. Engaging directly with founders, investors, and policymakers highlighted the discipline and work ethic required to make impact scalable. The experience reinforced my commitment to champion systems and technologies that challenge conventional standards in healthcare and contribute to building a better future.
Major: Finance, Data Analytics, Supply Chain Management
School: W. P. School of Business
How do you think the experience will benefit you in the future?
This experience definitely benefited me for the future. Throughout the course of the internship, I was able to build connections with my founder and his mentor. They guided me, mentored me, and I learned so much from them. With this experience, I was able to understand the businesses of Medtech and Healthcare, discovering what is best for the industry and the challenges they are faced with.
Major: Master’s in Global Management – Global Business
School: Thunderbird School of Global Management
How do you think the experience will benefit you in the future?
Learning how the company was built from the ground up reinforced the importance of
consistency, clarity of mission, and iterative problem-solving principles I will apply in my future roles in healthcare innovation and any entrepreneurial ventures I pursue.
Angelina Gusty
Major: Business Entrepreneurship
School: Barrett Honors College and WPC Business College at Arizona State University
What did you gain most from the three Open Days in October?
I gained a much clearer understanding of how the organization operates day-to-day and how different teams collaborate during busy periods. I also learned a lot about communicating and adapting quickly to changing needs. Overall, the Open Days helped me feel more confident in my role and more aware of the bigger picture behind the work we do.
Major: Business Data Analytics & Digital Marketing
School: WP. Carey School of Business
How do you think the experience will benefit you in the future?
My internship with Paxauris, combined with the exposure we received during the Open Days at the Phoenix Bioscience Core, gave me a strong understanding of how early-stage companies operate and scale within the bioscience ecosystem. Being directly involved with a startup allowed me to see the day-to-day challenges behind product development, go-to-market strategy, and customer research. Connecting those hands-on responsibilities with the insights shared during the Open Days helped me build a more strategic and well-rounded perspective. I see this experience benefiting me in the future by strengthening the way I approach problem-solving, innovation, and cross-functional teamwork. It has also given me a clearer sense of how I want to contribute within the health and biotech space as I continue my career.
Major: MBA (12/2026), MSN-FNP (2017)
School: W.P. Carey School of Business – ASU
What are your final thoughts from the program?
I am deeply grateful for the chance to be part of XLR8 and the PBC community. As a first-generation graduate student and practicing nurse practitioner, being included in these conversations about the future of health innovation has been transformative and motivates me to keep pushing for impact beyond the medical exam room.
Major: Finance & Data Analytics
School: Arizona State University
What did you gain most from the three Open Days in October?
I truly valued the incredible conversations with various founders and VC investors. Their insights into the industry, along with the advice they shared about the work I am doing with NeuroCatch, were extremely meaningful. I also had the opportunity to sit down with my CEO, Derek Norsworthy, to better understand NeuroCatch as a company and its potential to become the new standard for assessing neuro diseases in the future.
Major: Business Data Analytics
School: W.P. Carey School of Business
Major: Biomedical Sciences, Minors in Math + Econ
School: Barrett Honors College + CLAS
Major: Finance and Artificial Intelligence in Business
School: W.P. Carey School of Business
About the Phoenix Bioscience Core
The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is a 30-acre life sciences innovation district located in downtown Phoenix. It hosts Arizona’s three public research universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—as well as leading genomics pioneers like the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of the City of Hope, and the International Genomics Consortium. The PBC also collaborates with major healthcare systems, including Banner Health, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Dignity Health, HonorHealth, Phoenix VA, and Valleywise Health, alongside a growing number of emerging life science companies. This unique concentration of research scientists and healthcare professionals fosters unprecedented collaborations, advancing precision medicine from discovery to delivery. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com
About XLR8 PBC
XLR8 PBC is a program for scale-ready companies seeking the capital, experience, and validation to move to the next level. Focusing on helping founders/CEO’s tell an investment story, find experienced executives, and sign partner deals that matter most to investors. Ideal applicants have a validated product or solution, early market traction, and are seeking strategic partnerships, mentorship, and investor connections to accelerate their growth. To learn more, please visit phoenixbiosciencecore.com/xlr8
By: Madisson Simental | January 28, 2026