Jess Li

Jess Li is the co-founder of Biocartesian, a biotechnology startup based in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2023, the two-person company participated in the Y Combinator Summer 2024 batch and focuses on converting biology into digital molecular maps. The firm utilizes advanced microscopy and chemistry to visualize molecules in diseased tissue at an unprecedented scale for therapeutic discovery and diagnostics. Prior to establishing Biocartesian, Li held a business development role at Imvaria, where she worked to bridge academic science and commercial healthcare initiatives. She previously earned a PhD in genetics and epigenetics from the University of Pennsylvania, developing deep domain expertise in next-generation sequencing and molecular biology. Her current focus centers on leveraging her academic research and early-stage startup experience to advance molecular imaging technologies and improve disease diagnostics across the life sciences sector.