The people behind the science
We are clinicians, scientists and builders united by one mission: to catalyze precision medicine.
Meet the team spearheading clinically validated AI for digital pathology.
Meriem Sefta
Meriem co-founded Waiv after building and leading the diagnostics business at Owkin, which spun out in 2026 with $35 million in financing. A cancer biologist and engineer, she holds a PhD from Institut Curie and a dual master's from MIT and Ecole Polytechnique.
Meriem Sefta
Meriem Sefta is Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Waiv, where she sets the company's scientific and strategic direction. She holds a PhD in computational and cancer biology from Institut Curie, as well as a dual master's in engineering from MIT and Polytechnique, bringing a combined engineering and research background rooted in the molecular biology of cancer. She built and led the diagnostics business at Owkin, which spun out as Waiv in 2026 with $35 million in financing co-led by OTB Ventures and Alpha Intelligence Capital. As CEO, she drives Waiv's mission to turn digital pathology and multimodal clinical data into clinically validated precision tests that improve outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.
Lionel Guillou
Lionel leads science and engineering behind Waiv's precision testing algorithms. He previously developed the first FDA-cleared AI system for sepsis diagnosis using a simple blood draw. He holds an Engineering Degree and a PhD from Ecole Polytechnique, an MS from Stanford, and is a McKinsey alum.
Lionel Guillou
Lionel Guillou is Co-founder and Chief Science and Technology Officer of Waiv, responsible for the technology and engineering behind its precision testing platform. He brings deep experience from Owkin, where he led the technical team within the diagnostics business building AI for histopathology images. Prior to Owkin, Lionel led technology development and data science at Cytovale, an SF-based medical device company building the first FDA-cleared AI system to use cell biophysical properties to diagnose sepsis. He holds his PhD and Engineering Degree from Ecole Polytechnique, his MS from Stanford University, and is a McKinsey alum.
Blandine Merino
Blandine leads the business strategy and commercial organization. She brings 20+ years leading product, business and strategy across AI and life sciences, including at Guardant Health and Freenome. At Agilent, she launched the third FDA-approved liquid biopsy test, then led AI and digital pathology strategy for companion diagnostics. She holds M.S. degrees in Molecular Biology and Engineering.
Blandine Merino
Blandine Merino serves as Chief Business Officer, leading Waiv's commercial strategy and scaling its commercial organization. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading Product, Business and Strategy for top Tier companies across AI and life sciences.Most recently at Agilent (NASDAQ: A), as AVP of Product, she led the global NGS-based oncology diagnostics Product before becoming AVP of Strategy for Companion Diagnostics (CDx), where she developed and executed the AI-Diagnostic and digital pathology strategy for the group. She previously served as VP Business Development at Freenome (NASDAQ: FRNM) and Head of Alliance Management at Guardant Health (NASDAQ: GH), and is the founder and former CEO of Bio2Market, where she advised leading AI–life sciences companies including Grail, Delfi, Myriad, and Personalis. She brings deep business and corporate development expertise, product strategy acumen, and the operating experience to build commercial organizations that win. She holds an M.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Paris-Saclay and an M.S. in Engineering from ISA Graduate School in Bioengineering.
Nadia Arfaoui
Nadia oversees product development and operations, turning Waiv's science into products that fit into the daily work of labs, clinicians, and drug developers. She brings years of experience at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and product, and holds a M.Eng from Ecole des Mines Saint-Etienne, a M.A.Sc from Ecole Polytechnique Montreal and an Executive MBA from HEC Paris.
Nadia Arfaoui
Nadia Arfaoui serves as Chief Product and Operations Officer, overseeing product development and day-to-day operations at Waiv. She brings experience from Owkin and BioSerenity, where she worked at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and product, and holds a Master of Engineering from Ecole des Mines Saint-Etienne, a Master of Applied Science from Ecole Polytechnique Montreal and an Executive MBA from HEC Paris. She leads the translation of Waiv's science into products that integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows for laboratories, clinicians, and drug developers. Her remit spans the full product lifecycle and the operational foundations needed to deliver Waiv's precision tests at scale.
Estelle Hocquet
Estelle makes sure Waiv's tests meet the clinical and scientific standards that clinicians rely on. She connects Waiv's science with the healthcare community and leads the medical strategy that takes each test from validation to real-world adoption.
Estelle Hocquet
Estelle Hocquet leads Medical Affairs at Waiv, ensuring the company's tests meet the clinical and scientific standards that clinicians and partners depend on. She serves as the connection between Waiv's science and the healthcare community, engaging clinical stakeholders and translating evidence into practice. She oversees the medical strategy that supports Waiv's products across their clinical lifecycle, from validation through real-world adoption. Her work ensures that Waiv's precision tests deliver meaningful, trusted value at the point of care.
Antoine de Sagey
Antoine leads pharma partnerships at Waiv, working with drug developers worldwide to bring validated tests to market. He previously led Owkin’s collaborations with MSD (MSIntuit Suite) and AstraZeneca (BRCAura BC). Before that, he launched innovative oncology therapies at Roche. Antoine holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) and a Master’s in Management from ESSEC Business School.
Antoine de Sagey
Antoine de Sagey leads pharma business development and strategic partnerships at Waiv, connecting the company's precision oncology testing platform with drug developers worldwide and developing long term relationships. He is responsible for building the collaborations that accelerate biomarker discovery, improve clinical trials and bring validated tests to market, that underpin Waiv's growth. He brings a deep experience from Owkin, where he supported and led our first pharma deals including the collaboration with Merck MSD to develop the MSIntuit Suite and the collaboration with AZ to develop BRCAura BC. Prior to joining Owkin, Antoine worked at Roche pharmaceutical in oncology. He gained a deep expertise in strategy, business planning and marketing by launching or promoting innovative therapies (AVASTIN, PERJETA, KADCYLA and PHESGO), in various cancer types (colorectal, lung, ovarian or breast cancer). Antoine is Doctor of Pharmacy and holds a Master’s degree in Management from ESSEC Business School, in France.