Rahul R. Rao, P.E.
Founder and CEO

Mr. Rao is a med-tech professional with over 19 years of experience at both multi-national corporations and start-ups. He is adept at helping med-tech organizations get their products to market faster in a more cost-effective manner, and with appropriate regulatory compliance, thereby increasing each organization’s overall worth and contribution to society. His varied experiences within the med-tech industry as a R&D Engineer, Quality Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, New Product Development (NPD) Project Manager, Program Manager, and Upstream Marketing Product Manager have provided him with a full over-view of the roles and skills needed for success in fast-paced biotech environments. He has brought value to large firms such as Southwest Research Institute, W.L. Gore and Associates, and Merz Aesthetics. Additionally, Mr. Rao has experienced first-hand the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of startups such as Verve Medical, Inc. and Ulthera, Inc (acquired for $600M). As CEO of Desert Platforms Medical Device Consultancy, Mr. Rao continues the mission to empower early-stage ventures towards their goal of improving patient outcomes and changing the world. He enjoys collaborating with med-tech organizations such as AZ BIO and the Flinn Foundation, and mentoring ventures and colleagues at the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation in Phoenix, AZ.

Shelby Wosick
Office Manager 

Shelby is an experienced administrative professional and entrepreneur with over 15 years supporting C-suite executives and leading operations across diverse industries. Her career has included roles as a Personal Assistant, Office Manager, Director of Operations, and most recently Executive Assistant to the COO, where she honed her ability to coordinate high-level initiatives, streamline communication, and build organizational systems – skills she now brings to Desert Platforms to strengthen operations and drive results. Shelby is adept at anticipating needs, building strong relationships, and bringing clarity and structure to fast-paced environments. With a unique blend of operational expertise, creative entrepreneurship, and people-focused leadership, she supports both organizational success and personal transformation.

Passionate about strategy, communication, and inclusivity, Shelby thrives in roles that combine vision with execution, helping leaders like Rahul turn ideas into meaningful outcomes.