This interview feature of Navin Goyal is part of Exeleon Magazine’s annual issue – The 100 Most Dynamic Leaders. Check out the Full Listing of Exeleon’s 100 Most Dynamic Leaders of 2025.
Success is often measured by titles, stability, and expertise. For Dr. Navin Goyal, that definition shifted after more than a decade as an anesthesiologist. While he valued the impact he made in medicine, he realized his fulfillment had plateaued. Choosing growth over comfort, he transitioned into entrepreneurship, building ventures that combine purpose with innovation.
As co-founder of LOUD Capital, LOUD Collective, and OFFOR Health, Goyal has dedicated himself to supporting founders, rethinking venture capital, and transforming access to healthcare for underserved communities. In this interview, he shares his turning point, his vision for impact-driven businesses, and what excites him most about the future.
You spent 13 years as an anesthesiologist before walking away to “wake others up.” What was the turning point that made you sideline medicine for entrepreneurship?
The turning point hit me after years of doing the same work and realizing it no longer fueled me the way it once did. I had trained for over a decade to become an anesthesiologist, and while I loved the impact I could make in the moment, I felt capped, my learning curve was flat, and my fulfillment was shrinking. I wanted to build something that mattered to me, something that challenged me, and where I could keep growing while helping others rise with me. It wasn’t an easy decision to walk away from a career I had worked so hard for, but I knew staying comfortable would have meant settling, and that was never an option.
What inspired the creation of LOUD Capital, and how is it different from traditional venture capital firms?
LOUD Capital grew out of the challenges I saw early-stage founders facing, especially around funding. I had invested in a few ventures personally and started connecting others to capital opportunities, and soon I was asked to take that responsibility further: could I deploy capital to ventures the way I saw fit? That was the start of our initial angel fund.
But what quickly became clear is that money alone isn’t what founders truly need. Building strong teams, making critical decisions, managing resources, driving business development, and integrating technology are just as important, many times more so. That’s why LOUD Capital isn’t a traditional VC firm. We invest in people first, offer hands-on operational support, and focus on scaling ventures with clarity, infrastructure, and purpose, not just dollars.
LOUD Capital now has more than 80 portfolio companies and four exits. What do you think has been the key to building such a strong portfolio?
I don’t think there’s one secret formula to building a strong portfolio. What matters is showing up early, being present, and earning the trust of the founders we work with. We’ve learned to listen first, really listen, to their challenges, fears, and ambitions, and then roll up our sleeves to help in every way we can, whether it’s strategy, operations, team-building, or technology integration.
What sets us apart is our willingness to be vulnerable, relatable, and empathetic, to admit when we don’t have all the answers, and to learn alongside the founders. We push forward even when it’s hard, even when the path isn’t clear, because we know that persistence, adaptability, and honest collaboration are what ultimately drive success. That mindset doesn’t just benefit the ventures themselves; it creates lasting value for our investors and the people whose lives are impacted by the products and services our companies are building.
OFFOR Health is redefining how and where healthcare is delivered, particularly for underserved children. How did this mission-driven venture come about?
OFFOR Health started with adults, but within our first year, a large Medicaid insurance company approached us with a challenge we couldn’t ignore: thousands of children across the country were waiting over a year for dental procedures in hospitals and surgery centers. The current system was overloaded, and kids were left in pain, often with disease progressing while they waited.
Our model flips that on its head. By bringing anesthesia directly into dental practices, we remove the need for families to travel long distances or endure long waits, making care more accessible and timely. Today, we’ve served over 40,000 children across multiple states. It’s mission-driven work, but it’s also practical: we’re creating a system that meets patients where they are and delivers care in a way the traditional system often can’t.
I’m drawn to ventures that solve real problems, make a tangible difference in people’s lives, and challenge outdated systems. For me, building companies is about impact, purpose, and designing solutions that actually change the world for the better.
From physician to VC to healthcare innovator, your journey has been unconventional. How do you personally define success today?
I define success by my ability to keep learning, following my curiosity with courage, and leaning into vulnerability while doing work that energizes me and benefits others. It’s about being honest about the challenges and lessons along the way and sharing those insights through platforms like my podcast, Made to Rise, and my newsletter, Underdogs Don’t Stop, so others can grow alongside me. For me, success isn’t a title or milestone; it’s helping others rise and creating real impact.
What excites you most about the future of LOUD Capital, LOUD Collective, and OFFOR Health?
What excites me most is seeing the foundation we’ve built continue to grow and inspire others to approach business differently. These are small organizations with big hearts and even bigger aspirations, and the incredible, ambitious people within them make me confident that what we’re creating will have lasting impact. I’m energized by the idea that the work we’re doing with LOUD Capital, LOUD Collective, and OFFOR Health not only builds successful companies but also inspires others to dream bigger, lead with purpose, and approach entrepreneurship and healthcare in a way that truly changes lives.
