Dr. Sema Sgaier

Dr. Sema Sgaier is the Co-Founder and CEO of Surgo Ventures and the Co-Founder of the  Surgo Foundation. Dr. Sgaier works at the intersection of behavior, data, and technology to  solve complex global health and development problems. At Surgo, Dr. Sgaier leads a multidisciplinary team of data scientists, behavioral scientists, technologists, and development experts.

Prior to co-founding and joining Surgo Ventures and the Surgo Foundation, Dr. Sgaier led several large-scale programs, research, and evaluation projects and has worked with  governments in India and Africa on public-health policy and large-scale delivery. Dr. Sgaier previously held roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and, as part of the foundation’s  India Country Office, she led the scale-up of their Avahan HIV prevention program in several states. 

Dr. Sgaier has been selected as a Rising Talent by the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society and serves on the board of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Alumni Network.  

Dr. Sgaier resides in Washington, D.C.