Shashi Shankar of Novellia On Pushing the Boundaries of AI
An interview with Dr. Bharat Sangani
Trust isn’t optional — it’s the foundation: Unlike many data companies that operate in the shadows, we’ve built Novellia on explicit patient consent and control. Every patient actively chooses whether to contribute their anonymized data to specific research initiatives. That transparency turns patients into partners, and it’s what enables us to build richer datasets and drive meaningful discoveries. - Shashi Shankar, Co-Founder & CEO of Novellia
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at a breakneck pace, and the entrepreneurs driving this innovation are at the forefront of this revolution. From groundbreaking applications to ethical considerations, these visionaries are shaping the future of AI. What does it take to innovate in such a rapidly evolving field, and how are these entrepreneurs using AI to solve real-world problems? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shashi Shankar, CEO of Novellia.
Shashi Shankar is the co-founder and CEO of Novellia, Inc., an award-winning, AI-enabled data partner trusted by leading biopharma companies to uncover hidden insights in real-world patient data. With a background in healthcare and a passion for leveraging AI and data analytics, Shashi leads Novellia’s strategy and business development to transform health data integration for improved patient outcomes. Prior to founding Novellia, Shashi spent nearly a decade at Genentech and Roche, where his personal experience with fragmented health data deeply motivated him to pioneer solutions that give both patients and researchers a more complete, accessible, and actionable view of healthcare data.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up?
Iwas born in Texas to parents who immigrated from India in the 80s. My childhood was pretty nomadic — we moved to India, headed back to Texas, and then Massachusetts, where I grew up in a picturesque coastal town that felt like something out of a novel. I was (and remain) really tight with my family. My close relationship with my grandparents, especially my Tata (grandfather), deeply influenced me and eventually inspired the founding of Novellia after he passed away from cancer. No matter what, I call my parents every morning on my walk from the subway to the office (they’re my unofficial Board of Directors!), and I’m really close with my older brother, who I’ve always looked up to. As the second son of immigrants, it was nice to have someone to model myself after, a pair of footsteps to follow.
My parents instilled a relentless work ethic in me and my brother — they pushed us extremely hard in everything, inside and outside the classroom. In our home, giving anything less than your all wasn’t an option. My dad even installed a whiteboard in the dining room so he could grill us on math and chemistry during dinner! There was no room for complaints or excuses, and perseverance and grit through discomfort was a constant theme. Even though it was intense and demanding, it was also an unconditionally loving home that prepared me for life’s challenges. It’s made me who I am today, and I’m extremely grateful for it.
Read the full article here.
