About

Yianni Psaltis, PhD

Cancer biologist and investor. Entrepreneur, investor, and advisor at the confluence of AI and healthspan.

My approach to business and life is galvanized by a relentless “immigrant mentality”, embodying an unfaltering work ethic, matched with an ethical compass that harmonizes with an audacious streak of creativity. I am a believer in the emancipating powers of imagination, which affords a temporary pass to interrogate entrenched perspectives of the world, fueling the conversion of simple observations into unprecedented discoveries.

Traversing executive strategy, venture capital, and technology innovation, my professional repertoire serves as a bedrock to engage with organizations and founders alike, helping them navigate the anfractuous terrain of exponential technology and uncover fresh avenues for growth. At Link Ventures, I helped establish and launch the Link-XPV Fund, a nearly $250M venture fund investing primarily in enterprise AI out of the Boston ecosystem alongside Peter Diamandis and Dave Blundin. Before that, I served as the “Strike Force” Entrepreneur-in-Residence alongside futurist Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, operating as strategic counsel, board observer, and intellectual collaborator.

Working at the confluence of AI and other exponential technologies, a key focus area is to pioneer developments in the arena of healthy aging and human longevity. As I find myself at this remarkable nexus of technologies, my ambition is to significantly influence the global health trajectory, making a substantial, enduring impact on people worldwide.

The Path

Present

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

NeoGenesis Capital

Backing the pre-eminent ecosystem and platform for synthetic and programmable biology, at the confluence of longevity biosciences, AI, and data. Co-curator of the Abundance Longevity Trip with Peter Diamandis, 2022–present.

Previously

Managing Director

Link Ventures · Link-XPV Fund

Founding team member of the nearly $250M early-stage fund, primarily enterprise AI, rooted in the Boston ecosystem; helped establish and launch it from Day 1 alongside Peter Diamandis and Dave Blundin.

Previously

“Strike Force” Entrepreneur-in-Residence

PHD Ventures · Dr. Peter H. Diamandis

Primary thought partner and strategic counsel across health and longevity. Worked alongside Peter Diamandis from the earliest days of XPRIZE Healthspan, helping shape the initial prize structure and helping raise $157M. Personally reviewed over 400 life sciences companies advancing human healthspan each year.

Education

PhD, Cancer Biology · MS, Biotechnology

Georgetown University · Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Oncology

In the laboratory of Dr. Mary Beth Martin, studied metalloestrogens: how calcium and the environmental metal cadmium activate estrogen receptor α, mimic estrogen, and drive hormone-independent, endocrine-resistant breast cancer, linking environmental exposure to breast cancer biology.

Selected Publications

Cadmium activation of wild-type and constitutively active estrogen receptor alpha Psaltis JB, et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2024 Activation of estrogen-related receptor γ by calcium and cadmium Wang Q, Huang N, Psaltis JB, et al. · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2024 Role of calcium in hormone-independent and -resistant breast cancer Cyrus K, et al. · International Journal of Cancer · 2021