Pulse Charter Connect, led by its tenacious female founder, Laura Epstein, is tackling the organ transplant logistics crisis head-on. By replacing outdated, manual systems with a modern, automated platform, the company ensures the efficient delivery of life-saving organ donations and offers renewed hope to those on the transplant waitlist.
Ensuring Efficient Delivery Of Donated Organs To Patients
The organ transplant landscape in the United States is marked by grim figures: Over 100,000 individuals languish on the transplant waitlist, while only 45,000 transplants are performed annually. A staggering 28,000 organ donations go unused each year due to logistical inefficiencies, contributing to 16 daily deaths among those awaiting transplants. Recognizing the urgent need for innovation in this life-saving sector, Pulse Charter Connect is a beacon of hope.
Epstein, CEO of Pulse Charter Connect, identified the inefficiencies in the organ transport system while consulting for an air charter company during her time at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business studying for her MBA. Epstein, a registered pilot with an undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering and experience at the Federal Aviation Administration, was uniquely positioned to understand the complexities of aviation logistics. Her father’s influence, as the owner of an air transport company specializing in moving priceless art, further solidified her passion for logistics and transportation.
Driven by a desire to streamline the organ transport logistics process, Epstein founded the company in 2022. The company initially focused on developing a proprietary automated platform that would connect medical institutions with transportation fleets, ensuring the efficient delivery of life-saving organs. This “Expedia for Organ Transplants” approach aimed to replace the outdated, manual systems that had long plagued the industry.
The lack of transparency and real-time tracking in organ transplantation has been a significant challenge, hindering efficiency and potentially costing lives. Barry Friedman, executive director of the AdventHealth Transplant Institute and Pulse Charter connect advisor, highlighted this issue during his 2023 Senate testimony: “In many cases, organs must connect from one flight to another, leaving airline personnel responsible for transfers.”
He further emphasized the disparity between the ability to track everyday packages and the lack of a system for tracking transplant organs, noting, “While anyone can track their Amazon or FedEx package, there is currently no consistent way of tracking these life-saving organs.” This absence of real-time tracking capabilities creates uncertainty and potential delays in organ delivery, underscoring the need for improved logistics in this critical field.
In 2024, Congress mandated a shakeup in the organ transportation industry, breaking up a 40-year exclusive contract held by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). This move has opened the door for new players like Pulse Charter Connect to introduce modernization and efficiency.
Epstein’s unique blend of experience and her passion for solving critical problems have positioned her as the ideal leader for this transformative venture. Kate Kitto, head of Simplex Ventures, lauded Epstein’s “exceptional skills and bold vision,” emphasizing her ability to bring innovation to an industry ripe for change.
Mark Tebbe, adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and investor, praised Epstein’s ability to translate theoretical knowledge into tangible results, highlighting her impact on his students as a testament to the potential of the next generation of founders.
The company’s success has attracted attention from investors, leading to a recent $2 million funding round co-led by Ivy Ventures and Simplex Ventures. This brings the total funding raised to $3.3 million, which will scale operations, enhance the platform’s software, and expand the company’s reach across the U.S.
Female Founder Overcomes Bias To Improve Access to Organ Transplants
Epstein has had to overcome several challenges in building her organ transplant logistics company, Pulse Charter Connect. Two big hurdles have been navigating gender bias in fundraising and the aviation industry.
According to PitchBook, the percentage of venture capital invested in solely female-founded companies has dropped from 2.8% in 2015 to 2.0% in 2024 and 0.9% in 2025 as of January 31. Aware of this disparity, Epstein proactively leveraged her network to secure funding for Pulse Charter Connect. Her participation in these programs provided access to a diverse network of investors and mentors.
For example, Epstein connected with professors and alumni who became early investors in Pulse Charter Connect through Booth’s MBA program. Techstars, Cedar Sinai, and Tampa Bay Wave accelerator programs introduced her to healthcare-focused investors and advisors. In addition, Cedar Sina brought in internal stakeholders, including their transplant center at the hospital.
In addition to fundraising challenges, Epstein also had to overcome gender bias in the aviation industry. As of 2022, approximately 9% of CEOs at major global airlines were women, and 12% to 13% of commercial airline industry C-level executive positions were held by women. Epstein’s experience as a pilot and aerospace engineer—a field where women are significantly underrepresented—has helped her navigate the male-dominated aviation industry. She also credits mentorship as key to her success.
Epstein built trust with hospital stakeholders, many of whom were deeply rooted in manual processes. She leveraged customer testimonials and third-party intermediaries to open doors and demonstrate the value of Pulse Charter Connect’s platform. “It’s just getting the trust of different hospital stakeholders,” Epstein explained. Expertise in transportation logistics is essential, but one must also approach each hospital transplant coordinator with a willingness to learn and adapt.
Perhaps the most unexpected challenge Epstein faced was conquering her lifelong aversion to blood. As a child, she was so terrified of blood that she obtained a waiver to skip biology class. She’s come to view anatomy as similar to aerospace engineering, her undergraduate degree. She learned to disassociate by thinking of capillaries as the pressure systems in an engine and the heart is the motor.
This female founder’s innovative approach to organ transplant logistics is transforming a vital sector and addressing a critical need in the U.S. The company is paving the way for a more efficient and impactful future for organ donation delivery by streamlining communication, optimizing routing, and ensuring seamless coordination among all stakeholders.
