People
PARTNER, INVESTMENTS AND CONSULTING
Jeff Carroll joined in 2024 after 20 years as a healthcare entrepreneur and operator. Jeff is a Partner at Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. Jeff is a member of the Board of Directors of Nest Health and Belong Health. He serves as a Board Observer of Workit Health.
Jeff works across Sandbox’s investment funds, as well as supporting portfolio companies and the Sandbox Advisors team. He focuses on healthcare services and technology for both payer and provider use cases, with special interest in value-based care, government programs, payer-provider collaboration, and the deployment of disruptive technologies in healthcare.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Jeff served as Chief Revenue Officer of Lumeris and spent two decades at the forefront of healthcare financing and care delivery reform. He has deep expertise structuring, implementing, and operating value-based and Medicare Advantage engagements for both providers and payers. Jeff started his career standing up clinically integrated networks and Accountable Care Organizations before moving into managing insurance and delegated risk products.
Jeff holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his family and enjoys Chicago sports, Michigan lake summers, and the occasional motorcycle trip.
CO-CEO AND MANAGING PARTNER
Chris Zock joined Sandbox Industries in 2014. He is co-CEO and a Managing Partner of Sandbox Industries and leads the Insurtech fund team. Chris is a member of the Board of Directors for Workit Health, Indico, Gradient AI, and Verituity. He also serves as a Board Observer of Data Dimensions, Rollick, and Intellivo.
Chris focuses on leading the firm’s investment initiatives across both Sandbox Insurtech Ventures and the Blue Venture Funds, overseeing portfolio company engagement and board involvement.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Chris held financial and operational roles at Amazing Food Creations and its successor companies. He also gained investment and operational experience at a family office focused on residential real estate.
Chris holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family and is an avid fan of Formula 1.
CO-CEO AND MANAGING PARTNER
Matt Downs joined Sandbox Industries in 2004, a year after its founding, and is co-CEO and a Managing Partner of the firm. Matt is a member of the Board of Directors of Perspectum and Lumeris. He serves as a Board Observer of Somatus.
Matt focuses on shaping the firm’s culture and expanding into new industry sectors while overseeing the operational aspects of investment processes and capital deployment criteria across all Sandbox funds.
Previously, Matt was a venture investor with Highland Capital Partners and began his career in Morgan Stanley’s New York M&A group.
Matt holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Matt lives in Alpine, UT and enjoys reading and spending time with his wife and seven children.
PARTNER, CLINICAL
Dr. Emir Sandhu joined Sandbox Industries in 2019. He is a Partner of Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. He currently serves on the board of directors of Exai Bio, Somatus, Onc.AI, and Ultromics. He serves as a Board Observer of Noctrix and Octave Bioscience. He also supports or has supported the Blue Venture Fund's investments in Owl Health, Thrive Earlier Detection, PicassoMD, and HeartFlow.
Dr. Sandhu focuses on investments from seed to buyout within healthcare services and medical technologies, including devices, diagnostics, and AI.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Dr. Sandhu consulted on medical innovation initiatives at Google and co-founded OpenBiome, a nonprofit organization in Somerville, Massachusetts, which supports research on the human microbiome and has treated patients suffering from C. difficile infection.
Dr. Sandhu holds an MD from Harvard Medical School, an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina as a Morehead-Cain Scholar.
He completed his radiology residency at Stanford University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He served as adjunct faculty in Diagnostic Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine and was selected for the 2020 faculty teaching award by Stanford residents and students.
He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys golfing.
FOUNDER AND PARTNER
Nick is a Founder and Partner of Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director of Cultivian Sandbox. Previously, he was a Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Sandbox Industries. Nick is currently a Board Member of Chicago Innovation and represents Cultivian Sandbox on the Board of Directors of Nuritas and Geltor.
Prior to founding Sandbox, Nick led the buyout and served as CEO of The NutraSweet Company, which produced the first branded food ingredient. As a senior executive at Monsanto, he led the Nutrition and Consumer Products division, overseeing NutraSweet, the consumer Lawn and Garden Business, and the Kelco food ingredients business. Nick also served as a Senior Vice President and Advisor to the Board of Directors at Monsanto. Nick has held senior executive positions at Searle and has experience with Masonite Corporation and Baxter, as well as living and working in several countries, including Kuwait, Switzerland and France.
Nick has served as an advisor to several companies, such as Oncology Analytics, Marbles: The Brain Store, doggyloot, Lab42 and TechStars Chicago. Nick has also supported numerous civic organizations including Perspectives Charter School, Hull House, Working in the Schools, The Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Sister Cities and commercial organizations including The Economic Club of Chicago, The Mid America Committee, Illinois Business Roundtable, French-American Chamber of Commerce, World Economic Forum and the U.S.-China Business Council.
PARTNER, HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Kelsey Maguire joined Sandbox in 2019 and is a Partner at Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. Kelsey is a member of the Board of Directors of Origin Physical Therapy, CirrusMD, Insightin Health, Wayspring, Wider Circle, Alacura, and Daymark Health. She also serves as a Board Observer of Rula.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Kelsey was the Head of Eligibility and Launch Operations at health insurance startup, Collective Health, where she led several teams focused on launching new clients. She was previously an associate at the growth private equity firm TA Associates and began her career as a M&A banking analyst at Deutsche Bank.
Kelsey holds an AB in History & Literature from Harvard. She lives in Chicago, Illinois and enjoys cooking, reading fiction and spending time with her husband and two kids.
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PARTNER, TECHNOLOGY
Gretchen Hayes joined Sandbox in 2017. She is a Partner at Sandbox Industries and co-leads the Insurtech fund team. Gretchen is a member of the Board of Directors of Layr, Anzen, Confianza, and Swoop Funding.
Gretchen focuses on data and analytics, distribution, and technology companies across all stages from seed to buyout within the insurance sector.
Gretchen spent her entire career in the insurance industry. From 2013 to 2017, she led insurtech strategy, investments, and partnerships at Guy Carpenter (Marsh & McLennan). Earlier, over a twenty-five year career with AIG, Gretchen held global underwriting and other executive roles.
Gretchen holds dual degrees in English and Economics from the University of the Pacific. Gretchen enjoys life in New York City and sunny holidays on the coast of Spain.
PARTNER, CLINICAL
Dr. Tom Hawes joined Sandbox in 2008 and is a Partner at Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. Tom is a member of the Board of Directors of Humata Health, Octave Bioscience, and Upward Health. He also serves as a Board Observer of PinkDX. Dr. Hawes previously served as a Board Member of Phreesia (NYSE: PHR), PatientCo (acquired by WayStar), AbleTo (acquired by Optum), OncoHealth (acquired by Arsenal Capital Partners and McKesson), Healthify (acquired by Wellsky), HeartFlow, InVivoLink (acquired by HCA), Nexidia (acquired by NICE), and Verata Health (acquired by Olive.Ai), First Dollar (acquired by Inspira Financial), and as a Board Observer of Thrive Earlier Detection (NASDAQ: EXAS).
Prior to joining Sandbox, Dr. Hawes matched at Yale School of Medicine for residency. During his medical training, he worked on clinical studies at the ISK Institute for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and on outcomes research at the National Cancer Institute and New York Medical College’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Department.
Dr. Hawes holds an MD from New York Medical College, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and a BA from Brigham Young University. He is also a Kauffman Fellow. He lives in Austin, Texas and enjoys time with his family and community.
Partners
ASSOCIATE, CLINICAL
Noah Trapp joined Sandbox Industries in 2025 and is an Associate at the firm.
Prior to Sandbox, Noah was a Senior Consultant at HealthScape Advisors, A Chartis Company, where he supported organizational strategy development and network analytics. He also spent time as a Technical Solutions Engineer at Epic, working with hospital systems on EHR customization.
Noah holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He lives in Chicago, Illinois, where he enjoys running on the lake shore, golfing, and trying new restaurants.
ASSOCIATE, CLINICAL
Ryan Lynch joined Sandbox in 2025 and is an Associate at the firm. Ryan serves as a Board Observer for Ultromics.
Ryan focuses on Sandbox's life science investing, specifically across medical devices, diagnostics, and AI/software products for clinicians.
Prior to Sandbox, Ryan worked in the MedTech and Life Sciences industry for five years at Becton Dickinson (BD), where he completed the Finance Leadership Development Program and later supported commercial strategy within the Biosciences division. He also interned at JJDC (Johnson & Johnson’s corporate venture arm) and Joyance Partners, gaining experience investing in medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, and healthcare services.
Ryan holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Accounting from Brigham Young University.
VICE PRESIDENT, HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Liam McDonald joined Sandbox Industries in 2023 and is a Vice President at the firm. Liam serves as a Board Observer of Upward Health and Belong Health.
Liam focuses on healthcare services investing, including high-cost condition management, risk-bearing care delivery, and outsourced payer services across all stages.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Liam was an Associate at Sheridan Capital Partners, where he focused on leveraged buyout private equity investments in healthcare services, providers, and products. Liam started his career at Cain Brothers, an investment bank focused on middle-market healthcare M&A transactions.
Liam holds a B.S. in Finance and Business Analytics from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. He lives in Chicago, IL and enjoys golf, skiing (both water and snow), and exploring new restaurants in Chicago.
VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY
Michelle Gouveia joined Sandbox Industries in 2019 and is a Vice President at the firm. Michelle is a member of the Board of Directors of Confianza and serves as a Board Observer of Gradient AI, Indico, Anzen and Verituity. Michelle has co-hosted portfolio company Indico Data's Unstructured Unlocked podcast since 2023.
Michelle focuses on data and analytics, product distribution, and B2B technology businesses across all stages from seed to buyout within the insurance sector.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Michelle managed strategic initiatives at HSB (part of Munich Re), overseeing innovation initiatives across the organization. These included running pilots with insurtechs and the development and launch of new products. Michelle began her career at The Travelers in operational and process efficiency roles.
Michelle holds an MBA from the University of Hartford's Barney School of Business. She lives with her family in Austin, TX and enjoys futebol, both as a player and as an ardent supporter of Portuguese soccer club S.L.Benfica.
VICE PRESIDENT, HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Kelly Carlquist joined Sandbox Industries in 2020 and is a Vice President at the firm. Kelly is a member of the Board of Directors of Bluestone and Sempre and serves as a Board Observer of Tango, Tuesday Health, Origin, Emids and Fort Health.
Kelly focuses on healthcare services and delivery across all stages.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Kelly was an Associate on the Primary Investment Team at Adams Street Partners. Kelly started her career in Product Strategy at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Management Division.
Kelly holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA from Northwestern University with a major in Economics, a minor in Business Institutions and a certificate of music in Vocal Performance. She lives in Chicago, IL and enjoys golfing and running when the Midwestern climate allows.
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VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNOLOGY
Richard Antwi-Boasiako joined Sandbox Industries in 2024 and is a Vice President at the firm. Richard serves as a Board Observer of Alacura and Drips.
Richard focuses on B2B tech and tech-enabled services businesses within the healthcare and insurance sector.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Richard was a Senior Associate within the Healthcare team at Brighton Park Capital, a B2B technology and services growth private equity fund. Richard started his career as an investment banker at Centerview Partners in their London office.
Richard holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of Oxford with an MEng in Engineering Science.
Investment Team
ADVISOR, HEALTHCARE
Thomas Priselac joined Sandbox in 2025 and is an advisor of Sandbox Clinical Ventures and the Blue Venture Funds. A long-standing executive at Cedars-Sinai, Tom brings extensive experience driving operational, policy, and institutional transformation. Tom holds the Warschaw/Law endowed Chair in Healthcare Leadership at Cedars-Sinai. During his time at Cedars-Sinai he served as President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center beginning in 1994, and as President and CEO of Cedars-Sinai Health System from its formation.
He previously served as Chair of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the California Hospital Association, and the Hospital Association of Southern California Board of Trustees. He currently serves on the RAND Social and Economic Policy Advisory Board, the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics Advisory Board, and serves as an Adjunct Professor at the UCLA School of Public Health.
Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Washington and Jefferson College and a master’s in public health, health services administration and planning from the University of Pittsburgh.
ADVISOR, HEALTHCARE
Dr. Thomas Schenk joined Sandbox in 2021 and is an advisor of Sandbox Clinical Ventures and the Blue Venture Funds. Dr. Schenk is a physician and healthcare executive with significant C-suite strategic leadership and provider practice management experience. Dr. Schenk has worked as an advisor to early and commercial stage companies in sleep medicine, complex and rare diseases, cancer survivorship, and care management and navigation.
He is the former Executive Vice President of Healthcare Services and Provider Network as well as the Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and Blue Shield of Northeastern New York. In that role Tom led a team of more than 300 employees and oversaw strategy creation and the business operations of Healthcare Services, Pharmacy, Network Contracting, Value Based Contracting, Health Plan Quality, Provider Engagement, and Network Operations.
Dr. Schenk holds an MD from Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo and a BS in Microbiology and Biochemistry from Cornell University.
ADVISOR, INSURANCE
Charles (Chuck) Chamness joined Sandbox Insurtech as an Advisor after serving 18 years as President and CEO of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), a property/casualty insurance trade association with 1,400 member companies representing 41% of the total property and casualty insurance market. Through a combination of advocacy, public policy, and member services, Chuck helped to position NAMIC as the leading U.S. property/casualty insurance trade association with a member retention rate exceeding 99%. During his NAMIC tenure, he also served as chair of NAMICO, a professional liability insurance company, and as chair of the St Baldrick’s Foundation, the nation’s leading private funder of pediatric cancer research grants.
Chuck has testified before U.S. House and Senate committees on topics ranging from the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on the insurance industry to the industry’s response to various natural catastrophe events, including Hurricane Katrina. Prior to joining NAMIC, Chuck served in the first Bush administration as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs under HUD Secretary Jack Kemp, as a staff member on Capitol Hill, and in other public and private sector positions.
Chuck is currently on the board of directors of a primary insurance company, a reinsurance intermediary, and an independent rating bureau, as well as an advisor to companies in the insurtech space.
Chuck holds a B.A. from Indiana University; in 2020, he received the Bicentennial Medal for distinguished service to the university.
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VENTURE PARTNER
Mark R. Bartlett joined Sandbox Industries in 2022 and is a Venture Partner at the firm. Mark is a member of the Board of Directors of Tuesday Health. He supports the firm’s investment activities.
Mark focuses on helping innovators turn their idea into a product that is designed to contract with the infrastructures of payers and providers. His experience as the CFO of a payor brings insight into the contracting processes and protocols that enable new approaches to interface with large enterprise structure.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Mark worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for 32 years, serving as CFO for 25 years. During that time Mark had the opportunity to lead efforts to launch and operate Medicare Advantage, Affordable Care Act, Managed Medicaid and Workers Compensation businesses. Mark started his career in the audit department of an international accounting firm.
During his tenure, Mark served on a number of business and community-oriented Boards, including Chairman of the Board of the first Blue Venture Fund. Currently, Mark is Chairman of the Board of Roots Montessori School, a nonprofit school he and his wife started in 2018 that enables children from a broad range of economic backgrounds to learn and grow together in the spirit of authentic Montessori education.
Mark started his career at a Detroit accounting firm. He received a BBA from the University of Michigan and a Master of Divinity from Michigan Theological Seminary. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Leadership Michigan program. He lives in Plymouth, Michigan and enjoys gardening, cooking and chasing stray golf balls!
Venture Partners and Advisors
PARTNER, INVESTMENTS AND CONSULTING
Jeff Carroll joined in 2024 after 20 years as a healthcare entrepreneur and operator. Jeff is a Partner at Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. Jeff is a member of the Board of Directors of Nest Health and Belong Health. He serves as a Board Observer of Workit Health.
Jeff works across Sandbox’s investment funds, as well as supporting portfolio companies and the Sandbox Advisors team. He focuses on healthcare services and technology for both payer and provider use cases, with special interest in value-based care, government programs, payer-provider collaboration, and the deployment of disruptive technologies in healthcare.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Jeff served as Chief Revenue Officer of Lumeris and spent two decades at the forefront of healthcare financing and care delivery reform. He has deep expertise structuring, implementing, and operating value-based and Medicare Advantage engagements for both providers and payers. Jeff started his career standing up clinically integrated networks and Accountable Care Organizations before moving into managing insurance and delegated risk products.
Jeff holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya. He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his family and enjoys Chicago sports, Michigan lake summers, and the occasional motorcycle trip.
Partners
Consulting Team
GENERAL COUNSEL
Kin Gill joined Sandbox Industries in 2026 as General Counsel. He is responsible for all legal, compliance, and governance matters across the firm. Prior to joining Sandbox, Kin served as Chief Legal Officer at each of Auctane, Upland Software, and Bazaarvoice, where he led complex M&A transactions, capital markets deals, and enterprise governance initiatives.
Kin holds a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and an M.B.A. and Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. He lives in Austin, Texas, and enjoys college football, gardening, trying to stay fit and spending time with his family in the Texas Hill Country.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND OFFICE MANAGER
Emily Warren joined Sandbox Industries in 2023 and is an Executive Assistant at the firm.
Emily focuses on helping with internal team structure, building client relationships and event planning. Emily provides executive support to Emir Sandhu.
Prior to joining Sandbox, she worked for Broward County Public Schools as a teacher in the Special Education, Autism Spectrum, department.
Emily holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from John Carroll University and a MA in Leadership in Special Education from Notre Dame of Maryland. She lives in Chicago, IL and enjoys yoga classes, walking her dog around the city and exploring new restaurants.
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT, HEALTHCARE
Ashley Carnegie joined Sandbox Industries in 2022 and is an Executive Assistant at the firm.
Ashley provides executive support to Dr. Tom Hawes and Kelsey Maguire and operational support to the investment team.
Prior to joining Sandbox, she worked at distressed debt investing firm Strategic Value Partners, where she supported the Investment Team and General Counsel.
Ashley holds a BA in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. She lives in Greenwich, Connecticut with her husband, four kids and two dogs. Ashley was an all-state basketball player, enjoys cooking, traveling and watching sports.
CHIEF OF STAFF, OFFICE OF THE CEO
Kamie Marsillo joined Sandbox Industries in 2022 and is Chief of Staff, Office of the CEO at the firm.
Kamie focuses on supporting the two Sandbox CEOs enabling them to scale across Sandbox Industries.
Prior to joining Sandbox, she worked for CVS Health as a Learning and Development Senior Consultant. Kamie also worked as an Executive Assistant during her first two years with CVS Health.
Kamie holds a BA in Marketing from Western International University. Kamie lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with her husband and two boys.
VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS
Jessica Scheets joined Sandbox Industries in 2017 and is a Vice President, Operations at the firm.
Jessica focuses on operational processes and investment workflows across the Sandbox platform in addition to managing key client relationships within the insurance sector.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Jessica developed a specialty in team management through roles with the Association Management Center and with AmeriCorps, where she worked with at-risk youth to develop educational and vocational plans.
Jessica holds a degree in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. She is a newly-minted resident of New York City after spending most of her life in the Chicago area.
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PARTNER, TECHNOLOGY
Dan Phillips joined Sandbox in 2011. He is Partner at Sandbox Industries and a Managing Director at the Blue Venture Fund. Dan is a member of the Board of Directors of Fort Health, Solera, Abacus Insights, and Smart Data Solutions and serves as a Board Observer of Care Connectors. Dan also supports Cultivian Sandbox's investments in Debut Biotech, Culture Biosciences and Supergut.
Dan focuses on investments in B2B technology and tech-enabled services businesses across all stages in the healthcare and insurance industries.
Prior to joining Sandbox, Dan held Senior Consultant roles at The Camden Group and SG2, focusing on health system strategic planning, operations, and clinical innovation.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan. He lives in Nashville, TN and enjoys running, cycling, and travel photography.
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