Angel Investor

Leah Huyghe

I back pre-seed companies working on Lyme disease and eye health: areas where I've spent years as a patient, advocate, and student of what's broken.

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Investment focus

Lyme Disease

I fought chronic Lyme for seven years. I know what it's like to be dismissed by doctors, to fail tests that don't work, to feel your body become unrecognizable.

The diagnostic and treatment landscape is still stuck decades behind the science. I'm looking for founders who see what I see: a massive, underserved patient population and a system that needs rebuilding from the ground up.

Ophthalmology & Vision

Three of those seven years, I was also battling corneal neuralgia. I learned the American ophthalmic system inside and out, and I'm familiar with exactly where it fails patients.

My involvement extends beyond investing. I sit on the board of Rose Charities, supporting Vision Together Nepal, which brings eye care to remote regions including the Everest area and Upper Dolpo. I also support ORBIS annually, whose flying eye hospital delivers care worldwide.

Design leader, former founder, patient advocate.

These aren't abstract interests. These are spaces where I see hard problems that are holding us back collectively:

  • Lyme-related suicides are climbing [Source]
  • Medical gaslighting is out of control [Source]
  • American Ophthalmology lacks the equipment to diagnose and treat the most painful cases, dismissing them as psychiatric disorders [Source 1] [Source 2]
Health Ophthalmics Root-cause medicine Chronic Illness Lyme disease Vector-borne illness

I'm early in my angel journey, but I know exactly what I want to back.

Founders who've felt the problem themselves, or are deeply close to someone who has
Pre-seed stage, Bay Area preferred but not required
I like to co-invest alongside others who bring complementary expertise
Companies rethinking diagnostics, treatment access, patient experience, or provider tools in Lyme, chronic illness, or eye health

If you're building something in these spaces and desire a investor who actually understands the patient side, let's talk.

Investments

LinkaChart

AI Health Companion for Patients with Chronic, Complex Conditions

linkachart.ai

Get in touch

I respond to thoughtful cold emails.
No warm intro needed if your pitch is clear.