Building systems that turn complexity into clarity
I'm Steven Thompson, founder of NexTrial.ai and veteran of billion-dollar transformations. From São Paulo to Cambridge, MA. I orchestrate teams and systems where compliance, scale, and human resilience determine success.
Brazil taught me empathy. Cycling taught me grit.
Living and working in Brazil showed me that the best solutions emerge when you truly understand the people using your systems. Whether it's navigating FDA to ANVISA regulations or building for GxP/LGPD compliance, cultural intelligence isn't optional—it's the foundation of trust.
Cycling through Estrada Real or Los Angeles's urban landscape taught me that progress isn't about individual speed. It's about reading the terrain, pacing the climbs, and keeping your team together when the route gets complex. The same principles apply to billion-dollar transformations.
How I approach every transformation
Compliance-First
Every system I build starts with audit readiness. GxP, GDPR, LGPD, SOX—compliance isn't overhead, it's the foundation that enables sustainable speed and investor confidence.
Spec-First
Before any code is written, we define success. Clear specifications, measurable outcomes, and stakeholder alignment prevent scope creep and ensure programs finish strong.
Human-in-Loop
AI amplifies human expertise, never replaces it. Teams stay in control while intelligent systems handle routine work, creating space for strategic thinking and creative problem-solving.
From ERP veteran to AI orchestration pioneer
NexTrial.ai Launch
CurrentFounded AI orchestration platform for clinical trials. Pilot networks report ~50% faster activation times.
ADM Global Transformation
EnterpriseOrchestrated >$1.2B ERP program delivering $250M cost reduction across 44,000+ FTEs.
NuBank IPO Readiness
HypergrowthScaled HCM systems from 700 to 10,000+ employees across Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
Indigo AG LATAM
ExpansionLed Brazil/Argentina expansion with localized finance, payroll, and supply chain systems.
Takeda
Life SciencesLed GxPTechnical Agile Project Manager. Delivered GxP-compliant data engineering pipelines, AWS MDM/Data Hub, and clinical analytics integrations, across oncology, vaccines, and regulatory pipelines.
Biogen
Life SciencesERP Project Manager & Integration Lead. Managed Oracle ERP upgrade (R11 → R12 → Fusion) and B2B Contract Manufacturing Operations (CMO) integrations, overseeing 260+ validated interfaces across clinical, regulatory, and supply chain systems. Ensured full GxP traceability for regulatory audits and compliant batch record management
NexTrial.ai and the future of clinical trials
Today, I'm focused on NexTrial.ai—our AI orchestration platform that's transforming how clinical trials activate and scale. We're in active investor conversations and expanding our footprint across the US, Brazil, India and LATAM.
The same principles that delivered $250M in cost savings at ADM and scaled NuBank to IPO readiness now power our Trial Activation Intelligence. It's about turning complexity into clarity, one coordinated step at a time.
Learn About NexTrial.ai →Beyond the systems
Art, cycling, and the spaces between
When I'm not orchestrating clinical trials or digital transformations, you'll find me exploring Ubatuba's gravel roads or São Paulo's urban landscapes on two wheels. There's something about cycling that mirrors good system design—it's about finding the optimal path, maintaining momentum, and staying aware of everything around you.
Art teaches patience and perspective. Cycling teaches resilience and rhythm. Both remind me that the best solutions emerge in the spaces between effort and flow, structure and creativity, individual strength and collective momentum.