Profusa Strengthens Leadership as it Advances Wearables and Bitcoin Strategy
Former VA Secretary joins board, veteran CFO appointed amid expansion into health tech and digital assets.
Profusa (NASDAQ: PFSA) is ramping up its leadership team just as the company accelerates efforts to commercialize its groundbreaking biosensor platform and solidify its position at the intersection of health tech and digital finance. The Berkeley-based company announced on Tuesday that former Acting U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter O’Rourke has joined the board as lead independent director and that Fred Knechtel, a seasoned Fortune 500 finance executive, has been named Chief Financial Officer.
Commenting on the additions, Profusa CEO Ben Hwang, Ph.D., stated:
Profusa is at an inflection point as we prepare to bring our transformative biosensor platform to global markets. Peter brings extensive leadership experience, having overseen one of the largest integrated healthcare systems in the United States, serving more than 9 million veterans across 1,300 facilities during the first Trump administration. His ability to navigate complex organizations and drive large-scale innovation will be invaluable as we grow. Fred, who has long been a trusted partner to Profusa as a founder and CFO of NorthView Acquisition Corp., brings deep expertise in operations, capital markets, and investor engagement. Together, their insights will strengthen our path to commercialization.
A Board Member With Government and Healthcare Reach
O’Rourke, who briefly led the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Trump, has a track record of guiding large and complex organizations. His experience spans federal government leadership, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic advisory roles in the private sector. That blend of public service and corporate acumen positions him to provide oversight as Profusa transitions from development to commercialization.
“It’s a privilege to join Profusa’s board at such a pivotal moment,” O’Rourke said. “Profusa’s biosensor technology has the potential to transform how we understand and monitor human health. I look forward to working with the Board and leadership team to accelerate growth, support commercialization, and maximize shareholder value.”
His appointment adds political and operational heft to a company seeking to disrupt the global wearables and digital health markets—sectors that giants like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Garmin (NYSE: GRMN), Sony (NYSE: SONY), Samsung (OTC: SSNLF), and Xiaomi (OTC: XIACF) already dominate.
A CFO With Fortune 500 Credentials
Knechtel brings decades of financial leadership across industries, including stints at Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), and DuPont (NYSE: DD). He has steered companies through IPOs, restructurings, and M&A activity, experience that Profusa is counting on as it pursues both clinical growth and financial innovation.
“I believe that Profusa possesses game-changing technology that will set the stage for how we maintain our health for years to come,” Knechtel said. “Combined with an innovative financial strategy to manage our balance sheet, I’m looking forward to collaborating with the management team and board to drive our progress and growth in the coming years.”
His arrival comes on the heels of Profusa’s five-pillar growth strategy, which outlined revenue development, AI-driven analytics, regulatory milestones, financial structuring, and scaling operations. The addition of a high-level CFO is seen as essential to advancing those priorities, especially as the company pushes into Europe and pursues a U.S. launch in the coming years.
Also Read: Why This Tiny Wearable Tech Stock Looks Poised for a Massive Breakout
Wearables Market Momentum Meets Bitcoin Treasury Strategy
Profusa’s leadership upgrades arrive as the broader wearables industry posts explosive growth. The global market, valued at nearly $87 billion this year, is projected to more than double by 2032. That trajectory has already sparked eye-popping rallies in sector peers. Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP) has surged more than 800% over the past month, Know Labs (NYSE American: KNW) drew headlines after a $125 million buyout and Bitcoin-backed rebrand, and Vuzix (NASDAQ: VUZI) secured new orders for its smart glasses technology.
Unlike most rivals, Profusa has layered a Bitcoin (BTCUSD) treasury component onto its growth blueprint. The company executed an initial $1 million purchase last month, backed by a $100 million equity line of credit with Ascent Partners Fund. This bold strategy aligns Profusa with digital asset-heavy corporates like Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR), MARA Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA), and Trump Media (NASDAQ: DJT).
Hwang called the first Bitcoin purchase:
An important first step in our collaboration with Ascent Partners Fund to establish a low-cost, capital-efficient, best-of-breed Bitcoin treasury strategy reflecting our strong conviction in Bitcoin as the digital store of value for the future and our dedication to driving our healthcare programs forward.
At the Crossroads of Innovation
By blending cutting-edge biosensors with a financial strategy rooted in crypto, Profusa is carving out a unique identity. On one side, it is competing with global electronics giants and nimble medtech players in the high-stakes wearables arena. On the other, it is signaling confidence in Bitcoin’s role as a corporate reserve asset—a move typically associated with miners, fintechs, and digital-first firms.
For investors, that mix could prove compelling. Profusa is chasing multi-billion-dollar opportunities in oxygen and glucose monitoring while simultaneously aligning with the digital treasury movement that has attracted Wall Street’s attention during President Trump’s second term. The appointments of O’Rourke and Knechtel add leadership ballast at a moment when execution is critical.
With a strengthened board, a seasoned CFO, and a strategy that straddles health and crypto, Profusa appears determined to shape the future of both patient monitoring and corporate finance.
Read Now: How to Capitalize on the Five Pillars of Growth in the Red-Hot Wearables Market
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