Do You Really Need an MBA to Work in Startups? A Pediatrician’s Path to VC + Founding Grapevyne with Zhen Chan

What does it actually take for a physician to break into startups or venture capital—and do you need an MBA to do it?

In this episode of Startup Physicians, Dr. Alison Curfman talks with Dr. Zhen Chan, a practicing pediatrician and founder of Grapevyne. Zhen shares how he moved from a traditional training path to venture work, what “due diligence” looks like in the real world, and why clinical insight is often the missing piece in healthcare products.

They also discuss why physicians often overvalue credentials, how networking creates opportunities faster than another degree, and how Zhen pivoted Grapevyne from a job marketplace into a community built to help clinicians expand their skills and impact in 2025 and beyond.

Takeaways

• Zhen Chan transitioned from clinical medicine to startups.
• Networking is crucial for career development in healthcare.
• Experience can be more valuable than formal education.
• Venture fellowships provide exposure to the startup ecosystem.
• Clinical perspectives are essential in evaluating healthcare startups.
• Grapevyne aims to empower physicians and medical professionals.
• The importance of adaptability and pivoting in entrepreneurship.
• Understanding regulatory pathways is vital for healthcare innovation.
• Building a community can enhance professional growth.
• Physicians have unique insights that can drive startup success.

Connect with Zhen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhenmd)
Learn more about Grapevyne: https://grapevyne.health)

https://instagram.com/zhen_md

https://www.tiktok.com/@zhenmd

Chapters

00:00 – Intro + Zhen’s background
01:30 – MBA vs real-world experience
03:10 – Why he pivoted from fellowship plans
05:55 – Networking as the unlock
12:05 – Venture fellowships + due diligence explained
16:10 – Unpaid roles, equity, and value exchange
21:05 – What he learned: how investors think
24:50 – The unique value of physician perspective
28:15 – What Grapevyne is building now
30:45 – Pivot story + closing