Entrepreneurial Woman Revolutionizes Organ Transplant Coordination for Life-Saving Purposes
Pulse Charter Connect, spearheaded by its tenacious leader, Laura Epstein, is tackling the organ transplant logistics predicament head-on. By replacing outdated, manual systems with a state-of-the-art, digital platform, the company ensures the swift delivery of life-saving organ donations, offering renewed hope to those on the transplant waitlist.
Streamlining Organ Donation Logistics
The U.S. organ transplant landscape is marred by disheartening statistics: Over 100,000 people linger on the transplant waitlist each year, while only 45,000 transplants occur. Shockingly, roughly 28,000 organ donations go unused annually due to logistical inefficiencies, leading to 16 daily deaths among transplant hopefuls. Recognizing the urgent need for innovation in this vital sector, Pulse Charter Connect serves as a beacon of hope.
Epstein, the company's CEO, identified the logistical challenges in organ transport while collaborating with an air charter organization during her time at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. As a registered pilot with an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering and experience at the Federal Aviation Administration, she understood the complexity of aviation logistics. Her father's influence, as an owner of an air transport company specializing in valuable art, further sparked her interest in logistics and transportation.
Determined to optimize organ transport logistics, Epstein launched Pulse Charter Connect in 2022. The company initially focused on creating an advanced, automated platform that would connect medical institutions with transportation providers, ensuring the efficient delivery of life-saving organs. This "Expedia for Organ Transplants" strategy aimed to replace antiquated, manual systems that had long plagued the industry.
Eliminating Transplant Inefficiencies
Transparency and real-time tracking have emerged as significant challenges in the organ transplant process, hindering efficiency and potentially costing lives. During his 2023 Senate testimony, Barry Friedman, former executive director of the AdventHealth Transplant Institute and Pulse Charter Connect advisor, emphasized this issue. "In many cases," he explained, "organs must connect from one flight to another, leaving airline personnel responsible for transfers." Reinforcing this, Friedman pointed out the misalignment between tracking capabilities in everyday deliveries and the organ donation process: "While anyone can track their Amazon or FedEx package, there is currently no consistent way of tracking these life-saving organs."
This absence of live tracking capabilities creates uncertainty and potential delays in organ delivery, underscoring the need for improving logistics in this critical area. Legislation, such as the 2024 mandate by Congress that dismantled the 40-year exclusive contract held by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), has opened the door for newcomers like Pulse Charter Connect to introduce modernization and efficiency.
Epstein's unique blend of expertise and passion for solving critical problems has positioned her as the ideal leader for this transformative venture. Commenting on Epstein's abilities, Kate Kitto, head of Simplex Ventures, lauded her "exceptional skills and bold vision," praising her knack for leading innovation in an industry in dire need of change.
Mark Tebbe, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and investor, echoed Kitto's sentiments, praising Epstein's capacity to convert theoretical knowledge into practical results. He emphasized the impact her work has had on his students, showcasing the potential of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The company's progress has garnered the attention of investors, resulting in a recent $2 million funding round co-led by Ivy Ventures and Simplex Ventures. This brings the total funding raised to $3.3 million, which will be used to enhance platform functionality, expand reach, and optimize operations across the U.S.
Overcoming Gender Bias in a Male-Dominated Industry
Navigating gender bias in fundraising and the aviation industry has posed significant challenges for Epstein. According to PitchBook, the percentage of venture capital invested in female-led companies decreased from 2.8% in 2015 to 2.0% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2025 as of January 31. Acknowledging this disparity, Epstein actively leveraged her network to secure funding for Pulse Charter Connect, gaining access to a diverse array of investors and mentors through programs like Booth’s MBA program, Techstars, Tampa Bay Wave, and Cedars-Sinai accelerator.
In addition to fundraising challenges, Epstein also encountered gender bias within the aviation industry, where, as of 2022, 9% of CEOs at major global airlines were female, and 12% to 13% of commercial airline C-level executive positions were held by women. Epstein's experience as a pilot and aerospace engineering graduate—careers where women are significantly underrepresented—has enabled her to navigate the male-dominated aviation industry. Mentorship proved pivotal to Epstein's success, helping her build trust with hospital stakeholders and secure partnerships.
Conquering her own lifelong fear of blood has been another unexpected and integral aspect of Epstein's journey. Having acquired a blood phobia as a child, she obtained a waiver to skip biology class. She now views anatomy as analogous to an aerospace engine, enabling her to approach organ transplant logistics with a fresh perspective.
Epstein's innovative approach to organ transplant logistics is revolutionizing a vital sector and addressing a fundamental need in the U.S. By streamlining communication, optimizing routing, and working tirelessly to ensure seamless coordination among all stakeholders, the company is paving the way for a more efficient and impactful future for organ donation delivery.
- In her time at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Epstein collaborated with an air charter organization, identifying the logistical challenges in organ transport due to her background in aerospace engineering and experience at the Federal Aviation Administration.
- The company's platform, aimed to be the "Expedia for Organ Transplants," connects medical institutions with transportation providers, aiming to replace antiquated, manual systems that have long contributed to inefficiencies in the organ transport logistics industry.
- During his Senate testimony, Barry Friedman, former executive director of the AdventHealth Transplant Institute and Pulse Charter Connect advisor, emphasized the need for real-time tracking capabilities in organ transplant logistics, as airline personnel are currently responsible for transfers between flights due to disjointed tracking capabilities.
- Epstein's innovative approach to organ transplant logistics, which includes streamlining communication, optimizing routing, and ensuring seamless coordination between stakeholders, has garnered the attention of investors and resulted in a recent $2 million funding round led by Ivy Ventures and Simplex Ventures.
