HC9 taps Hovious as head of network and community and Ciesielski as principal

• Prior to HC9, Hovious was a principal at Echo Health Ventures and president of the Nashville Health Care Council
• Previously, Ciesielski worked at Lewis & Clark Ventures, where she was a principal for over five years
• HC9 is an early-stage venture capital firm that targets emerging healthcare software and services companies

HC9 Ventures has hired Hayley Hovious as head of network and community and Helen Ciesielski as principal.

Both Hovious and Ciesielski have joined HC9 following the close of the firm’s $83 million first fund.

Prior to HC9, Hovious was a principal at Echo Health Ventures and president of the Nashville Health Care Council. Earlier in her career, she served as the trade director for the State of Tennessee.

Ciesielski joins HC9 from Lewis & Clark Ventures, where she was a principal for over five years. Prior to that, she was a principal at Ascension Ventures where she began her venture career.

“We’re excited to welcome Hayley and Helen to the HC9 team, as they bring significant experience to the foundation of the community engagement and investment functions of the fund,“ said Jon Gordon, co-founder and general partner of HC9, in a statement. “Hayley and Helen’s talents will significantly enhance our ability to deploy capital into in the best emerging healthcare companies and materially accelerate the growth of our portfolio – further reinforcing the unique value of HC9 in early-stage healthcare. Venture investing is a team effort, and we couldn’t have asked for a better starting lineup for our first fund.”

Based in Woodstock, New York, HC9 is an early-stage venture capital firm that targets emerging healthcare software and services companies.

HC9 was founded in 2021.