Brian Loew

Exciting news from Monica Chopra, Jeffrey De Flavio, MD, Samantha Adelberg, and the rest of the Auxa Health team as they officially announce their $5.2M Seed round. The team's deep industry expertise and drive for change have led them to solve critical infrastructural friction to providing quality healthcare and adoption of value-based care. Auxa's AI benefit navigation platform is simplifying the complexities of healthcare by streamlining all of the fragmented and siloed data and information to make it actionable in real-time for healthcare organizations. For the 70% of Americans who aren't getting access to the health and social care benefits they deserve, Auxa's solution will be pivotal in enabling equitable care. We're thrilled to partner with co-investors Zeal Capital Partners, AlleyCorp, Laconia, and Chaac Ventures on this journey and look to share many more milestones ahead. Cc K50 Ventures, Ryan Bloomer, Daniel Vásquez, Nick Talwar, Stefanie Ng https://lnkd.in/dPDY7-Db

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You have to admit that the headline "Digital health resilience leads to brilliance" by Rock Health is a bit cheesy but when you look at the amount raised and number of deals, the future sounds more optimistic in H1 of 2024 than in the H1 of 2023. If you look at the Leading Value Propositions and Clinical Indications table you can see a #1 Treatment of disease at $1.1B. In the Clinical Indications the top 4 investments are in #mentalhealth, #cardiovascular, #oncology and #weightmanagement & #obesity. The upcoming trend of Food-as-Medicine or Food Care shows strength with $200M investment in Foodsmart. "The digital health sector continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability. Funding momentum (especially at the early stage) and the tapering of transition measures like unlabeled rounds hint that we might be returning to more “normal,” sustainable venture patterns." Read the whole report by clicking on the link below. #digitalhealth #mentalhealth #obesity #weightmanagement #AI #foodasmedicine https://lnkd.in/gPmX8dFn

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Join me on The Doctor’s Farmacy as I sit down with two incredible experts, Vijay Pande, PhD and Daisy Wolf from a16z Bio + Health, to explore how AI is set to revolutionize healthcare. We dive deep into the world of cutting-edge tech, like wearable devices and AI diagnostics, making personalized medicine more accessible and effective than ever before. I truly believe in the transformative power of AI in healthcare. The synergy between doctors, patients, and AI holds immense potential to improve the health and lives of countless individuals. That's why I co-founded Function Health —to harness this powerful relationship and bring advanced diagnostics and treatments to those who need them most. Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gbgDSDKp

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This article by the WSJ is critically important for public health officials and HealthTech entrepreneurs to internalize. We need multiple solutions for patients to move towards post GLP-1 usage. These solutions need to be easy to implement, non-disruptive to daily life and focused on caloric restriction , lifestyle change and muscle gain. Too many startups are still focused on GLP-1 prescription and delivery. Not enough people focused on the next stage of the weight management journey. As the Journal states, the benefits of the GLP-1 craze are only going to be successful long term if the transition off of them is successful. Otherwise, we risk unforeseen, long term consequences to a large group of patients stuck on GLP-1's with no healthy way to transition off. https://lnkd.in/dYBd3HaN Meghan FitzGerald James Stearns Dominic Perks John LaMattina Raju Kucherlapati

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I recently sat down with Michael Batko, CEO at Startmate and Founder of Puddle Pod for Episode 11 of Insane Ambition. Startmate has invested in 230+ startups, much of it under Michael's leadership, and now has $3.5b in value across its portfolio companies. In this episode, we discussed: - Michael's journey from consulting, then living in the Amazon rainforest, to leading Australia's biggest startup accelerator - The future of Australia's startup ecosystem - The labour government's very stupid plan to make it harder for people to qualify as sophisticated investors (now thankfully shelved) - Startmate City! Startmate's plan to build Australia's first startup city. Probably the most ambitious idea I've ever heard from a startup accelerator. - The balance between visionary thinking and traditional startup advice (think Elon Musk's plan to colonise Mars, vs Y Combinator's problem/customer obsession) - "The Courage to Be Disliked", and its influence on Michael's approach to life and business. Links in the description below 👇

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Thank you to Consumer Technology Association and the leadership of René Quashie and Ami Bhatt, MD for hosting the recent Health AI+ Symposium at Harvard Medical School. It mattered a lot that the room included so many people with very different expertise and experience—this kind of diversity will be key to using AI to actually build more equitable health innovations. Chris Gibbons, MD, MPH, René Quashie and I joined forces to share how AI matters to health equity and where it's making important advancements. Many folks shaped these insights from CTA's community including Lisa K. Fitzpatrick MD, MPH, MPA, Michael R. Crawford, Crystal Grant, Ph.D., Meg Barron, Gaurav Manchanda and many others! I walked away with three insights and questions. 1) AI is massively accelerating health innovation. According to Rock Health data, there are over 500 venture backed digital health startups in the US that have AI enabled solutions with $18B in venture funding from 2021-2023, and that number is growing. In that time, top therapeutic areas for AI startup investment were oncology ($1.9B), cardiovascular care ($1.8B), and mental health ($1.4B). How is all of this momentum around AI advancing health equity—and where could it? Thus is a huge opportunity space for health innovators. 2) In many ways, AI is like any innovation where we need to bring an equity lens and consider: Who is designing these AI innovations? Who is gaining access and who are these advancements benefiting? Who is getting funding to propel this technology? The people behind the technology matter and we can all be doing more to join forces, collaborate and bring more leaders together. 3) Anyone who cares to advance health equity needs proof points of where AI can be a force for good. To be sure, there is much to be cautious about and many examples of real harm that we should take seriously. Most examples will need feedback for improvement, but that’s true of most innovations regardless of AI. The important part is that we keep learning and collaborating to make the innovations work better for more people. One encouraging example that Casey Ross at STAT recently wrote about is the Health AI Partnership, which is leveraging AI to advance health equity for rural populations, at a time when rural hospitals are closing at alarming rates. To do so, this collaboration is offering rural hospitals the chance to integrate AI into administrative processes that will reduce costs and improve efficiencies. And that is just one of many encouraging examples surfaced in our conversation at the symposium. I am excited to learn and share more examples of where AI is showing promise and potential to advance health equity.

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In a compelling discussion, Senan Ebrahim, MD, PhD, Founder & CEO of Delfina, joined Erin Gau, Co-Founder and COO of Charter, to shed light on the persistent maternal health crisis in the United States. Despite high healthcare spending, the crisis deepens, driven by gaps in prenatal support that became glaringly apparent to Dr. Ebrahim during COVID. Here are 3 key takeaways from their conversation: 💡 Innovative AI Solutions Learn how Delfina uses AI to provide personalized, proactive care to expectant mothers, aiming to improve outcomes and prevent emergencies. 💡 The Role of Employers Discover how simple changes in workplace policies can significantly support pregnant employees. 💡 The Future of Healthcare Explore how Delfina plans to expand its network and integrate further into employer-sponsored health plans, setting new standards in prenatal care. Read their full discussion on the Transform blog to uncover the potential of AI in transforming maternal health and watch the full video interview. (See link in comments 👇 ) Here's a sneak peek... #Technology #HumanResources #Benefits #HealthTech #MaternalHealth #AI #PrenatalCare #Innovation #FounderFriday

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Another large funding round in the virtual behavioral health space. It's interesting to note Talkiatry's focus on a physician-centric care model with W-2 providers, as opposed to most of the other players who are delivering care with 1099 mid-level therapists. However, it's still not clear to me how they are measuring care quality and outcomes, which is the foundation of true value-based care.

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We had an incredible time at the Northwest Pharmacy Convention 2024! Some key learnings and discussions from the conference as the MedMe Health (YC W21) team spent a few enlightening days in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho:: 🩺 Standard of Care Model for Autonomous Prescribing Jennifer Adams highlighted the continuum of pharmacist prescribing authority, from most restrictive to least restrictive across all the states, starting from: 1) Collaborative Prescribing: Patient-Specific CPAs 2) Collaborative Prescribing: Population-Specific CPAs 3) Autonomous Prescribing: Government Protocols 4) Autonomous Prescribing: Standard of Care States like Idaho on the Standard of Care model are leading the charge with the more standard and sustainable way for pharmacists to prescribe, rather than more restrictive and highly-specific models that make it difficult for even patients to know what pharmacists can and cannot do. 🌐 Diverse Approaches to Clinical Services We observed a wide range of progress among pharmacies in their clinical services journey - from those just beginning to implement clinical services to those with fully established systems, multiple consultation rooms, and dedicated clinical staff such as Alexandra (Sasha) Heyneman, PharmD, MS, ANP and Scott Herzog doing services like compounding, prescribing, PrEP, Travel, Hormone Therapy, etc. 💊 Emergence of Cash Pay Pharmacies Innovative models like cash pay pharmacies, where patients pay a fixed monthly fee for unlimited healthcare access, are gaining traction. There was an interesting case we heard where a pharmacy was able to retain 50% of their patients after transitioning Caremark patients to this model. This approach is particularly valuable for patients caught between Medicare and Medicaid or those with high deductibles and copays, making out-of-pocket payments more affordable. Extremely grateful for all the insights from other leaders as well including Alex Barker, PharmD, Chris Schaffner, Pharm.D., Mylinh Nguyen, Pam Eaton, and many more! #pharmacy #healthtech #NWPharmacistConference2024 #digitalhealth

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ISPOR 2024 is just 1 week away! Join us at the Georgia World Congress Center as we dive into an exploration of how health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) can be a transformative force for Whole Health. I’m enormously proud of my staff team at ISPOR, and the many dedicated volunteers – on our program committee and elsewhere – that have worked together to ensure that the program really lives up to our conference theme. In considering the many abstracts submitted for inclusion in the program, for instance, we consistently asked whether they were speaking to how HEOR could be a transformative force for Whole Health. Equally, the poster sessions, the short courses, the case studies, and all of the other components that collectively make up the program have been tailored to speak not only to Whole Health, but to demonstrate where and how HEOR can facilitate, maybe even accelerate, the achievement of Whole Health. With respect to specific sessions that I think are particularly relevant or interesting, it is always hard to single out a specific session from what is truly a feast for the mind. That said, we have a spotlight session on day 1 that looks at Medicare drug price negotiation and the lessons from the first 10 drugs selected that I believe will be very interesting and thought-provoking. On the closing day of the conference there is another spotlight session on how to adjust economic models for health equity in the conduct of generalized cost-effectiveness analysis that is also very exciting for me. In between, we are offering 12 diverse short courses, numerous case studies and breakout sessions, member group meetings and poster sessions. We are also convening a global patient summit that underscores our desire to hear from patients and patient representatives and ensure that the patient voice is heard in decisions about what constitutes “value” in health. Taken as a whole, ISPOR 2024 promises to be the singular HEOR event of the year. I hope you can join us! #ispor #ispor2024 #wholehealth #healtheconomics #outcomesresearch

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Startup founders, you don't have to do it alone! Apply now to join the Techstars Boston Accelerator and gain access to our extensive network! We are looking to select 12 high-growth startups to participate in our 13-week Techstars Boston accelerator program kicking off in September -- apply now or tag a founder below who you think might be a good fit!  https://lnkd.in/gbi3hAGi #startups #founders #entrepreneurs #boston 

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In Episode 3 of the "Brain Cancer Science Talk" series on #MissionGBM, we chat with John de Groot, MD (Division Chief of Neuro-Oncology, UCSF) about immunotherapies, the need for combination protocols, Focused Ultrasound, and necessary improvements to clinical trial design and Regulatory framework to advance the development of treatment options for #braincancer patients. #FUS #ImmunoOncology #GBM #Onward #Nof1onBehalfofAll

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Severe mental illness remains one of the most underserved areas in mental health, possibly because it is difficult to address with the type of virtual, easy-to-scale models that VCs love to back. We're so excited that Sonia Priscilla García and Stas Sokolin at Amae Health have been able to break the mold, bringing better in-person solutions for patients and families dealing with SMI, and attracting strong venture partners to do so cc: Lisa Jacobs Blau, Alison Ryu, Claire Akkan Quiet Capital, Healthier Capital, Jan Ellison Baszucki, Karin Kissane, Mike Volpi

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It was great to spend time with colleagues, investors, and friends at #DHISEast this week. Here are my key takeaways:  1️⃣ The two key themes of the conference were AI and GLP-1. Closely following was clinician burnout.  2️⃣ The consensus was that Value-Based Care (VBC) is here to stay, although its adoption has been slower than anticipated in some cases. 3️⃣ The era of company extension rounds appears to be over and we will start to see priced rounds again. The majority of venture capitalists are shifting to later-stage investments, seeking less risk. (I wonder how this will impact the number of early-stage companies). Here are some of my thoughts to connect the dots: ☑ For VBC, it is crucial to allocate resources to the right patients, not to all patients. ☑ AI is a key part of the solution for both VBC and clinician burnout, but it must be validated and seamlessly integrated into clinicians' workflows. ☑ Regarding GLP-1, this is just the beginning. Real-World Evidence (RWE) must be collected, new indications will be revealed, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) will surface. Guidelines should be established and the black market for these medications needs to be controlled. #AI #GLP1 #VBC #polypharmacy #medicationmanagement #populationhealth #ACO #digitalhealth #RWE #ADRs Benjamin Lakin, PhD Nandini Kashyap Megann Watters Samir Malik Ian Chiang 📷: https://lnkd.in/dGTEu8gZ

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I learned so much! Thanks FemHealth Insights for putting this report together.

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We are thrilled to announce that our upcoming TECH WEEK by a16z event is going to be bigger than ever before! We’ve partnered with amazing women-led brands like The Fourth Effect with Breen Sullivan and Katrin de Haën , zant, and 2FIT BRANDS to bring you an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, we're adding two sessions on advancements in #AI and women's health to foster insightful discussions and exchange ideas. Join us for an evening of networking and deep dives into #GenAI during #NYTechWeek, personalized women’s health empowerment, and investment opportunities. We're excited to offer you the opportunity to join two exclusive sessions led by Marina Vieva, an active participant in the Bay Area community and leader in women's health. These sessions are packed with insider information, innovative solutions, and engaging discussions with industry leaders. Don’t miss out—spaces are limited to ensure interactive conversations! Session 1: GenAI Trends, Silicon Valley Vision, Concerns, and Opportunities Get insider access to the latest GenAI trends, visions from Silicon Valley, and the concerns and opportunities shaping the future. Marina Vieva will share her unique insights, and you'll have the chance to engage in a lively discussion with industry players. Session 2: Women's Health Perspective on GenAI and Future Advancements Discover how GenAI can revolutionize women's health. Marina Vieva will present innovative solutions and a forward-looking vision for the future of women's health. Participate in stimulating discussions and connect with market leaders. Sign Up Now! https://lu.ma/6esiktxd Future of AI: New horizons in Digital Health. Discussion, brainstorming, networking. NY #TechWeek · Luma #GenerativeAI #LeadershipInAI #WomenInTech #AIInnovation #FutureOfAI #TechSummit #NYTechWeek #AILeadership #AIConference #AI2024 #WomenInLeadership #AIRevolution #AICommunity #InspireAI #TechTalks #MarinaVieva #FemiSpace #AIEvent #AIInsights #TheForthEffect #Zant #2FITBRANDS

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Congratulations to our portfolio company Mae for closing their oversubscribed seed round to reduce maternal health disparities! We are proud to be part of this round as early investors alongside Avestria Ventures, Bright Ventures, and the Social Starts Health & Happiness Fund. The round was led by Jumpstart Nova and new investors include the Astia Fund, Impact Engine, Joyance Partners, and Gratitude Railroad. "The urgent need for interventions in Black maternal health is underscored by stark statistics: Black Americans face a maternal mortality rate more than two and a half times higher than other demographic groups. Furthermore, an estimated 16% of Black babies are born in areas with limited or no access to maternity care services, exacerbating existing disparities. Against this backdrop, Mae’s seed raise represents a crucial step towards addressing these inequalities and improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Mae’s approach combines a digital engagement and risk-tracking platform with community-based doula support to empower expectant mothers, particularly those from underserved communities. By centering the pregnant person throughout the perinatal journey, Mae aims to reduce disparate maternal health outcomes, including preterm births and non-medically necessary C-sections." Cheers to you Maya Hardigan, Rachel Nance Wade, Alisha Lalani, Courtney Webster, Britney Morgan, Jennifer Ekunkunbor, Jessica Gaddis, Maia Gokhale, Angelica G., Lydia Harris, and team!

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For #MemberMonday, please meet Kristen Berman, CEO & Co-Founder of Irrational Labs. Her team specializes in behavioral economics, driving engagement in HealthTech. Plus, she has an awesome product teardown Substack, and started a compound featured in The New York Times, Vox, and The Atlantic 🚀 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 I’m CEO & Co-Founder of Irrational Labs. We’re a behavioral economics and design consulting shop that works on behavior change; we co-founded Google's behavioral economics group.  I also have a popular Substack where I do product teardowns (link in comment) Fun fact: I started a 20-person compound in Oakland called Radish, featured in The New York Times, Vox, and The Atlantic (link in comment) 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 At Irrational Labs, we are experts at behavior change, focused on driving engagement for patients, members, and providers. We give you psychology insights about your users and translate those into behavior-change strategies and designs. Sample projects include: • One Medical's onboarding flow, driving a 20% lift in bookings\ • Optum's and other payers’ product launches, telehealth adoption, and mobile app design • Behavior change strategy and design for Roche, Belong Health, Talkspace, TytoCare, and Aetna, a CVS Health Company • Partner regularly with the biggest names in the Valley (LinkedIn, Intuit, PayPal) If you need to understand and build for your user’s psychology -- hit us up! We’d love to talk with you. You can send me (Kristen Berman) a DM or email at kristen@irrationallabs.com. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 HealthTech Hang 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁? I went to a HealthTech Hang dinner and made a friend AND got a warm intro to a potential client!  #MemberMonday #HealthTech #BehaviorChange

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