About Us

Wayfinder’s team of seasoned experts in RNA biophysics, molecular biology and machine learning is dedicated to pioneering RNA-targeting small molecule therapies.

Our advisors bring invaluable insight into biotech commercialization, medicinal chemistry and taking small molecules to the clinic.

Our Mission: Discovering treatments for currently incurable diseases

Our Team

  • Jason Fontana

    Jason Fontana

    Founder & CEO

  • David Sparkman-Yager

    David Sparkman-Yager

    Founder & CTO

  • Chuhern Hwang

    Chuhern Hwang

    Founder & Head of Drug Discovery

  • Michelle Kriner

    Michelle Kriner

    Head of Program Development

  • Rao Talasila

    Rao Talasila

    Head of Machine Learning

  • Brett Israels

    Brett Israels

    Scientist

  • Nermeeta Dhillon

    Nermeeta Dhillon

    Applied ML Scientist

  • Wanling Kratzman

    Wanling Kratzman

    Research Associate

  • Isha Gupta

    Isha Gupta

    Research Associate

  • Noelle Yaitanes

    Noelle Yaitanes

    Laboratory Technician

Join Our Team

Advisors & Consultants

  • Nick Terrett

    fmr SAVP at Merck
    fmr Senior Director at Pfizer

  • Lance Stewart

    fmr CSOO at Institute for Protein Design

  • Jay Rothstein

    CSO at Lifordi Immunotherapeutics

  • Tom McCauley

    CSO at Omega Therapeutics

  • Troy Lionberger

    CBO at AbbraTech

  • James Carothers

    Associate Professor at University of Washington

  • Jesse Zalatan

    Associate Professor University of Washington

  • John Tabone

    fmr. Stratos Genomics

  • Todd Smith

    fmr. CEO at Geospiza

Our Investors