# Justin Kowalchuk

> Justin Kowalchuk founded Medbridge in 2009 and led it as CEO until 2022. His earlier career spanned banking software, Oracle implementations in Asia and capital-markets roles in Japan. After leading Medbridge through debt financing and investment partnerships with LLR Partners and Brentwood Associates, he stepped down to focus on family, nonprofit work and supporting entrepreneurs. Sonoran Ridge Capital currently lists him as an advisor.

- **Role:** Advisor at Sonoran Ridge Capital
- **Organizations:** Medbridge, Sonoran Ridge Capital, Treasury Services Corporation, Oracle, Merrill Lynch Japan, Dresdner Kleinwort Japan
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Occidental College, MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Master’s degree in International Studies, University of Pennsylvania
- **Known for:** Founded Medbridge and served as its CEO for thirteen years., Led Medbridge when it won GeekWire’s 2016 Bootstrapper of the Year award., Led the company through the 2018 LLR investment and 2021 Brentwood recapitalization.

## Career timeline

- **After undergraduate study** — Joined Treasury Services Corporation and relocated to Tokyo; the company was subsequently acquired by Oracle.
- **1998–2001** — Worked in structured finance at Merrill Lynch Japan.
- **2001–2008** — Worked in capital markets at Dresdner Kleinwort Japan, including heading its Online Markets Division.
- **2009** — Founded Medbridge.
- **2016** — Accepted Medbridge’s GeekWire Bootstrapper of the Year award; later confirmed $3 million in debt financing.
- **2018** — LLR Partners invested in Medbridge.
- **2021** — Brentwood Associates led a recapitalization of Medbridge.
- **2022** — Stepped down as Medbridge CEO.
- **2023** — Featured as a visiting expert at Penn Venture Lab on March 15.
- **Verified October 2026; start date unknown** — Listed as an advisor by Sonoran Ridge Capital.

## Achievements

- Founded Medbridge and served as its CEO for thirteen years.
- Led Medbridge when it won GeekWire’s 2016 Bootstrapper of the Year award.
- Led the company through the 2018 LLR investment and 2021 Brentwood recapitalization.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Sonoran Ridge Capital’s live team page lists Kowalchuk as an advisor; this is a verification date, not an appointment announcement.
- **2023-03** — Penn Venture Lab scheduled him for virtual visiting-expert sessions on March 15, 2023.
- **2022-08** — Medbridge announced his departure as CEO and named Jonathan Berkowitz interim CEO.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-kowalchuk-a41a435/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/justin-kowalchuk
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21