September 24, 2025
Simon Arkell, 2x Olympian & Cancer Research Entrepreneur
From Olympic Heights To AI Breakthroughs
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From Olympic runways to boardroom breakthroughs, Simon Arkel knows how to raise the bar—and clear it. On this episode of The Reboot Chronicles, we’re joined by this two-time Olympian and five-time NCAA All-American whose journey is a masterclass in reinvention.
Simon’s pole vaulting career was built on grit, resilience, and relentless pursuit—qualities that now define his impact in the healthcare industry. Simon has served as CEO across multiple ventures, most notably steering DeepLens, a pioneering platform for clinical trial patient-matching, through its successful acquisition by Paradigm Health. Today, he’s at the helm of Ryght Inc., where he’s harnessing generative AI to revolutionize Biopharma site selection—making it faster, smarter, and more cost-effective.
Simon’s journey is one of ongoing evolution from early promise to Olympic excellence, and now a visionary leader reshaping healthcare through technology. Join us as we unpack the many reboots that shaped his path—and explore what’s next on his horizon.
Clearing The Bar
Simon’s story begins far from Silicon Valley, in Adelaide, Australia, where he first discovered pole vaulting as a teenager. At the start, he struggled—failing to clear even the opening bar in his first two national championships. But rather than give up, he doubled down, inspired by watching the Olympic Games with his stepfather and deciding he would one day compete on that stage. That determination helped him land an NCAA scholarship at the University of New Mexico, smash the Australian national record, and ultimately represent his country in the Olympic Games. His defining moment came at the 1990 Commonwealth Games, where years of relentless dedication culminated in a gold medal and a record-setting performance. It was a career forged through failure, fueled by grit, and marked by breakthrough wins—an athletic foundation that would later serve him well as an entrepreneur.
Rebooting Healthcare The Ryght Way
After his successful exit with DeepLens, Simon saw a new opportunity to accelerate progress in clinical trials. With Ryght Inc., he set out to eliminate one of the industry’s most persistent bottlenecks: site selection. In an era where promising therapies are discovered with AI but still face decade long trial timelines, Ryght uses AI site twins to analyze countless variables—from investigator expertise to operational performance—and rapidly match sponsors with the best trial sites worldwide. Backed by top-tier investors, Ryght is reimagining the way therapies reach patients, shaving months off activation timelines and aiming to save millions of lives.
Turning Setbacks Into Strength
In navigating setbacks and quiet finishes on a world stage, Simon quickly learned that failure was both public and painful—but also transformational. “You learn the most about yourself in those situations,” he recalls. Those moments built his resilience and his appreciation for camaraderie in a dangerous sport where athletes depend on each other for safety and success. In business, Simon carried that lesson forward: you may be competing, but strong relationships and shared respect often create the breakthroughs that matter most.
