# Kara Egan

> Kara Egan is the co-founder and CEO of Teal Health, the San Francisco-based company behind the Teal Wand - the first and only FDA-authorized at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening in the United States. A Stanford engineer-turned-Wharton MBA, Kara spent years as a venture capital investor at Emergence Capital and .406 Ventures before betting on a product she believed could remake an 80-year-old medical process. Backed by $23M from investors including Emerson Collective, Serena Ventures, and Forerunner, Teal Health has rapidly expanded nationwide with a device that studies show is just as accurate as in-clinic screening and preferred by 94% of women who tried it.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at Teal Health
- **Organizations:** Teal Health, Emergence Capital, .406 Ventures, Kauffman Fellows
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS, Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, MBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Fellow, Class 23, Kauffman Fellows Program
- **Known for:** Co-founded Teal Health and led it to becoming the maker of the first FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening device in the United States, Raised $23M total funding from high-profile investors including Emerson Collective (Laurene Powell Jobs), Serena Ventures (Serena Williams), Metrodora Ventures (Chelsea Clinton), and Forerunner, Secured FDA Breakthrough Device designation for the Teal Wand, enabling expedited review

## Career timeline

- **1999-2003** — BS in Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University; All-American sailor and captain of the nationally ranked Stanford sailing team
- **2003-2005** — Associate at Arcadia Partners
- **2006-2009** — Associate at .406 Ventures; helped launch the firm, raise its inaugural $170M fund, and drive investments in SaaS, health IT, and security
- **2009-2011** — MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
- **2011-2013** — Director of Marketing & Partnerships at Backupify
- **2013-2014** — Senior Product Marketing Manager at Zendesk; helped expand from SMB to mid-market and enterprise
- **2014-2016** — Director of Product Marketing at Stitch Labs
- **2016-2020** — Principal at Emergence Capital; software investor focused on enterprise SaaS; promoted to Principal in 2018; completed Kauffman Fellows Class 23
- **2020** — Co-founded Teal Health with Dr. Avnesh Thakor (Stanford interventional radiologist) during the pandemic
- **2023** — Raised $8.8M seed round led by Emerson Collective, Serena Ventures, Metrodora Ventures, and Felicis Ventures
- **2025-01** — Raised $10M additional seed funding led by Emerson Collective and Forerunner; Labcorp joined as strategic partner
- **2025-05** — FDA authorized the Teal Wand - the first and only FDA-authorized at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening in the US
- **2025-05** — SELF-CERV clinical trial results published in JAMA Network Open
- **2026-01** — Teal Health expanded to all 50 U.S. states

## Achievements

- Co-founded Teal Health and led it to becoming the maker of the first FDA-authorized at-home cervical cancer screening device in the United States
- Raised $23M total funding from high-profile investors including Emerson Collective (Laurene Powell Jobs), Serena Ventures (Serena Williams), Metrodora Ventures (Chelsea Clinton), and Forerunner
- Secured FDA Breakthrough Device designation for the Teal Wand, enabling expedited review
- Led the SELF-CERV multi-center pivotal clinical trial across 16 sites with 609 participants - published in JAMA Network Open
- Former Principal at Emergence Capital, one of Silicon Valley's top enterprise SaaS-focused venture funds
- Kauffman Fellow, Class 23
- All-American sailor and captain of the nationally ranked Stanford sailing team
- Speaker at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2024
- Named in press for pioneering a more accessible, equitable approach to women's preventive healthcare

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Teal Health expanded availability of the Teal Wand to all 50 U.S. states
- **2025-09** — Teal Health expanded to New York and Florida following California launch
- **2025-08** — Teal Health launched the Teal Wand in California following FDA authorization
- **2025-05** — FDA authorized the Teal Wand as the first and only at-home self-collection device for cervical cancer screening in the US; SELF-CERV study published in JAMA Network Open
- **2025-01** — Teal Health raised $10M additional seed round led by Emerson Collective and Forerunner; total funding reached $23M

## Links

- Website: https://www.getteal.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kara-sweeney-egan/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Kara_Egan
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karaegan/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eganke/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kara-egan
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-13