Black Opal Ventures

Black Opal Ventures is a visionary venture capital firm that strategically invests in companies leveraging technology to address some of the world's most significant challenges, particularly at the intersection of healthcare and security. The firm is committed to backing founders who are building innovative solutions that promise both strong financial performance and meaningful societal impact. Their investment thesis centers on the transformative potential that arises when diverse industries and cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and advanced computing, converge to solve complex problems in critical sectors.

The firm was co-founded in 2021 by Dr. Tara Bishop and Eileen Tanghal, who first met as students at MIT three decades prior. Their shared vision to establish a collaborative, driven, and authentic business materialized into Black Opal Ventures. Dr. Bishop brings extensive experience in reshaping healthcare as a physician, venture capitalist, and executive, including her role as Chief Clinical Officer at Bind, which was acquired by UnitedHealth Group. Ms. Tanghal has a distinguished career spanning over 20 years in venture capital, with prior roles at Amadeus Capital Partners, Applied Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, where she invested in notable startups like Twist Bioscience and Cerebras.

Black Opal Ventures has built a diverse portfolio of early-stage companies, focusing on innovations in healthcare and technology. Notable investments include FlyteHealth, Optellum (AI for lung cancer diagnostics), Empatica (wearable technology for neurology), Conceivabe (infertility and reproductive health), Hyro (conversational AI for healthcare), Oath, GV20, Chamber, TigerGraph (graph analytics for healthcare data), and Blaze.tech. The firm typically invests in companies from Seed through Series B stages, with individual check sizes ranging from $250,000 to $2 million.

The Black Opal Ventures team comprises professionals with deep industry expertise, including managing directors Dr. Tara Bishop and Eileen Tanghal, Head of Investments Justin Craib-Cox, and several Venture Partners and Advisors. Their collective backgrounds span medicine, engineering, and venture capital, providing a comprehensive perspective that informs their investment strategy and supports their portfolio companies. The firm also runs a Fellowship Program, fostering new talent in the venture capital ecosystem with a focus on healthcare and technology.