Garri Zmudze

"Digital health is no longer the future; it is the present, reshaping our healthcare landscape in real-time." Excited to be part of the UCSF Digital Health Hub Foundation's Quarterfinalist Party! As a past board member, I'm honored to celebrate the outstanding quarterfinalists. As we reflect on the state of digital health in 2024, it's evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally transformed healthcare delivery. The rapid adoption of telemedicine during the crisis has become a permanent fixture, with over 60% of physicians continuing to utilize this technology. The sprint towards smarter healthcare, catalyzed by necessity, has shattered preconceptions about digital-first health experiences. Virtual care is no longer a stopgap but an integral part of a seamless, anytime, anywhere health ecosystem. 🌍 We're witnessing the rise of B2B2C models in remote consultations, with companies like Teladoc Health and Amwell partnering with insurance providers to integrate their services into health plans. Public sector collaborations, like eConsult Health 's partnership with the NHS in the #UK, underscore the potential for remote consultations to enhance efficiency and accessibility at a national level. The digital health landscape is evolving rapidly, with advancements in remote consultations, mental health support, at-home diagnostics, and patient monitoring. AI and generative AI transform care delivery, making it more efficient, personalized, and patient-centric. 🤖 Yet, challenges remain. While venture capital funding for digital health has stabilized after the pandemic boom, it remains below its 2021 peak. Sectors like digital therapeutics face reimbursement hurdles, and we've seen major players like Walmart and Optum close telehealth businesses. Looking ahead, we anticipate further consolidation in digital health, driven by acquisitions to create broader ecosystems encompass telemedicine, mental health, and other specialized services. As healthcare leaders, we must leverage these digital advancements to improve access, enhance patient outcomes, and drive efficiency in our healthcare systems. The future of healthcare is digital, and the time to embrace this transformation is now. Congratulations to all the finalists! 🎉 Looking forward to the grand finale at #HLTH2024 in #LasVegas! 🙌 By the way, the pink drink that we were holding was delicious—and nonalcoholic! The Digital Health Hub Foundation - Digital Health Awards #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #UCSFHealthHub #Networking #HealthTech #Entrepreneurship #LasVegasFinale Walter Greenleaf, PhD Daniel Kraft, MD Unity Stoakes StartUp Health University of California, San Francisco UCSF Innovation Ventures American Association for Precision Medicine (AAPM) WISE World Investors & Entrepreneurs Society #AAPMhealth #aapm_health

94

7 Comments

If you are in Basel for BioTechX Europe, do not miss this presentation by ZONTAL , part of the SciY family, discussing how you can leverage their highly automated #digitalization platform to make your data #FAIRdata #AIready

12

Some VC investors believe that brick and mortar - referring to a physical presence of some kind - should be avoided at all costs. Yet, the track record of clinic and hybrid care businesses in health care indicates otherwise. ==> One Medical (sold for $3.9 billion to Amazon), Oak Street (bought by CVS for $10.6 billion), Lifestance (IPO at $7.5 billion market cap), and PE-backed Premise Health (acquired by OMERS Private Equity for $1.1 billion) If a clinic is indicated as the optimal way to deliver care for that patient population, there are creative ways to build and operate them. Full article below with advice and strategies on how to build and operate hybrid clinics from my teammate Anarghya Vardhana from Maveron, Amir Dan Rubin from OneMedical Group, Steven Eidelman from Modern Animal and more!

13

1 Comment

The top three ecosystems maintained their same positions from 2020, with Silicon Valley remaining at the top, followed by New York City and London, which are tied for second. This is according to the just-released ranking of cities by Startup Genome in its annual Global Startup Ecosystem Report (https://lnkd.in/g727835s). Tel Aviv moved up one spot in the rankings and tied Los Angeles in the number 4 position. Interestingly enough, Miami jumped 7 spots to the 16th position, while the two leading Chinese cities, Beijing (8th) and Shanghai (11th), both slid. #startups #techrankings #israeltech #startupnation #techstartups #VC

6

In addition to investments in tech and biotech companies, Apeiron Investment Group invests in companies that are going to help people make the most of their leisure time – as we believe that over the coming decades, thanks to AI and other tech innovations, this is something we will all have in abundance.   This year alone, in Apeiron’s “Experiences, Hospitality & Happiness” division we have launched Chiron Sports Group, a sports growth equity asset manager - and I became Co-Founder of the Enhanced Games, which has already triggered a seismic shift in the sector. Sport is a super exciting space to be in - and stands to generate solid returns, too.    Region-wise, the Middle East is a key focus area for Apeiron. And in a perfect overlap, the Middle East is actually one of the regions where the most is happening with regards to sport. From our base in Abu Dhabi, we’re building momentum in the region and have several major projects in motion - all being overseen by my team on the ground there, co-led by Philipp Schreiber and Salvatore Lavallo.    Philipp, who relocated to the UAE in April this year, and Salvatore, who made #UAE his home years ago, have made huge progress building our vision for the region and especially Philipp is personally passionate about sports. He wrote a really comprehensive overview of the sports landscape in the region - summarising progress so far and what’s coming up as countries like the UAE, #SaudiArabia and #Qatar invest in diversifying their economies. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/ettTVxVD

45

1 Comment

🧬 This week's Austin Bio & Health Roundup brings new capital to deploy, fresh data, major clinical milestones, & important strategic acquisitions. 🧬 💰 Funding Arsenal Bridge Ventures is raising $150M to build bio startups. Based in Austin and New York, their explicit aim is to fuel emerging science beyond “traditional” hubs. More fuel for the Austin Bio & Health flywheel. Huge congrats Jim Graham CFA. I am very excited to see what’s to come. 📊 Data New data from Peter Walker at Carta breaks down median dilution & pre-money valuation for seed-stage companies by sector in 2024. For Bio & Health, the answer is...It depends. Biotech saw median dilution at 25.5%, the most of any sector, while Healthtech ranked 12th with 19.8%. Their pre-money valuations were quite similar, both just under $12M, putting them on the lower end for this stage compared to other sectors. Got to pump those numbers up!! 🚀 Launches, Expansions, Milestones, and Wins Somite Therapeutics, the AI driven cell therapy company, has been granted FDA Orphan Drug and Rare Pediatric Disease Designations for their lead program in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. At this rate, I may need to a create Somite section in the roundup! Amazing Micha Y. Breakstone 🇮🇱🎗️! Neuralink received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for Blindsight. And yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like! 🤝 M&A and Partnerships SubjectWell, a patient recruitment platform, is acquiring Trials24, a provider of patient recruitment solutions with a strong footprint in 13 European countries. Congrats Fred Martin on the next steps to building a truly global company. What’s Next?

26

7 Comments

Excited to share insights from our recent panel discussion on the latest trends in biotech and healthcare investments. We touched upon the following topics: 💡 Investment Trends in Biotech and Healthcare: Opportunities include continued innovation, and emerging technologies. 🧬 Advancements in Longevity and Regenerative Medicine: Breakthroughs in senescent cell clearance, stem cell rejuvenation, telomere biology, and the Klotho protein hold promise for extending healthspan and lifespan. 👵 Ethical Implications of Extending Human Lifespan: Equitable access, overpopulation, cultural impacts, generational conflict, and autonomy are key dilemmas. Inclusive governance and public dialogue are crucial for responsible navigation. 🤖 AI and Precision Medicine: AI is transforming personalized healthcare by integrating multi-omic data, enhancing biomarker discovery, predictive modeling, and clinical decision support, paving the way for more tailored and efficient treatments. ✂️ Gene Editing and CRISPR Technology: Ethical considerations include safety, access, human enhancement, and consent. Regulatory frameworks must evolve to ensure robust governance, public engagement, and global coordination. 🏥 Decentralized Clinical Trials and Remote Monitoring: DCTs increase patient access and retention, collect real-world data, and save costs, but face challenges in data quality, regulatory compliance, and technology infrastructure. Remote monitoring enhances patient engagement and data integrity. 📱 Health Tech and Wearable Devices: Wearables enable remote monitoring and personalized care but face barriers like data privacy, accuracy, user experience, integration, cost, and regulatory oversight. 🚀 Regulatory Pathways for Innovative Therapies: Biotech companies navigate complex, evolving frameworks. Solutions include developing clear guidelines, fostering regulatory flexibility, promoting global harmonization, and ensuring patient engagement. This discussion highlighted the incredible potential and intricate challenges in the biotech and healthcare sectors. Together, we can drive innovation while addressing ethical and regulatory concerns to improve global health outcomes. 🌟 #Biotech #HealthcareInnovation #LongevityResearch #PrecisionMedicine #GeneEditing #ClinicalTrials #HealthTech #AI #Wearables WISE World Investors & Entrepreneurs Society Private Investment Forum Worldwide American Association for Precision Medicine (AAPM) #RegulatoryAffairs #PublicHealth #AI #News

41

2 Comments

🚀 Biggest Startup Funding Rounds Last Week🚀 #1: Metsera 💼 Sector: Biotech 💰 Funding: $290M 📝 Details: New York-based Metsera emerged from stealth mode with a whopping $290 million funding round led by Arch Venture Partners. Specializing in medicines for obesity and metabolic diseases, Metsera offers a range of oral and injectable therapies. #2: Rivos Inc. 💼 Sector: Semiconductor 💰 Funding: $250M 📝 Details: Santa Clara's Rivos secured over $250 million in a Series A-3 funding round, spearheaded by Matrix Capital Management. Their expertise lies in power-optimized chips tailored for data analytics and generative AI markets. #3: Ramp 💼 Sector: Fintech 💰 Funding: $150M 📝 Details: New York-based Ramp raised $150 million in their latest funding round led by Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund. With a valuation spike to $7.65 billion, Ramp focuses on streamlining corporate card and expense automation solutions. #4: Two Chairs 💼 Sector: Healthcare 💰 Funding: $72M 📝 Details: San Francisco's Two Chairs closed a $72 million Series C round, enhancing their behavioral health platform. Utilizing a proprietary algorithm, they match patients with suitable therapists, boasting a team of over 500 clinicians. #5: Cape 💼 Sector: Mobile 💰 Funding: $61M 📝 Details: Arlington-based Cape raised $61 million in their debut round led by A* and Andreessen Horowitz. Their focus on developing a privacy-first mobile network addresses prevalent security concerns in the telecom industry. #6: Avive Solutions Inc. 💼 Sector: Healthcare 💰 Funding: $57M 📝 Details: SF's Avive Solutions secured $56.5 million in growth equity financing led by Catalyst Health Ventures, Laerdal Million Lives Fund, and Questa Capital Management. They specialize in connected automated external defibrillators. #7: Asher Biotherapeutics 💼 Sector: Biotech 💰 Funding: $55M 📝 Details: South San Francisco's Asher Biotherapeutics closed a $55 million Series C round led by RA Capital Management. Their focus on targeted immunotherapies for various diseases shows promising potential. #8: Corner Therapeutics 💼 Sector: Biotech 💰 Funding: $54M 📝 Details: Watertown's Corner Therapeutics raised $54 million in funding led by Ziff Capital Partners. Specializing in immunotherapy, they're dedicated to developing innovative treatments. #9: Kontakt.io 💼 Sector: Artificial Intelligence 💰 Funding: $48M 📝 Details: New York-based Kontakt raised $47.5 million in funding led by Goldman Sachs Asset Management. They provide health systems with analytics on staff and patient movement within facilities. #10: Anvilogic 💼 Sector: Cybersecurity 💰 Funding: $45M 📝 Details: Palo Alto's Anvilogic closed a $45 million Series C round led by Evolution Equity Partners. Focusing on security information and event management, they strive to protect organizations from cyber threats. #startups #funding #startupfunding ---- Subscribe to my newsletter: newsletter.foundersbay.com

49

8 Comments

"Equitable healthcare", and "democratized healthcare". I have spent a few years in the healthcare ecosystem, and sometimes sitting on the business side of things, these terms that I wholeheartedly endorsed and believed in, started to feel like jargon. In a "tech-enabled" healthcare world, true digital health innovation is rare, with many simply adding "AI-enabled" without substance. Which is why I am so glad to have met Viraj, who kind of got me out of my cynicism. My view had narrowed considerably, but looking at what Viraj is building and how, was refreshing and I am sure there are so many more people out there who are building health tech to realize equitable healthcare in India! Check out my short podcast episode with Viraj Kulkarni who is building Iyaso/Eloquent; an app that helps people overcome stammer and other speech disorders. Link to podcast: https://lnkd.in/gYwybbNb #Healthcare #DigitalHealth #Innovation #EquitableHealthcare #HealthTech

48

🚨 New #VC Deals 🚨 BETA TECHNOLOGIES, a startup that builds vertical takeoff and landing electric aircraft, raised a $318 million Series C led by the Qatar Investment Authority. Evommune, a Bay Area-based biotech startup focused on treatments for chronic immune diseases, raised a $114 million Series C led by RA Capital Management and Sectoral Asset Management. Elektrofi, which develops technology for self-administering medicines, raised a $112.25 million Series C led by Novo Holdings, RA Capital Management, Royalty Pharma and others. LuxWall, Inc., a startup that makes insulated, energy-efficient windows, raised a $51 million Series B led by Climate Investment (CI) and Barclays SIC, Axios reported. Cybersecurity company Bugcrowd, which develops an AI-powered security platform, raised $50 million from Silicon Valley Bank. Flower, a Stockholm-based energy grid startup, received a €45 million Series A led by Northzone. AI camera and video startup Spot AI raised a $31 million round from investors including Qualcomm Ventures, Scale Venture Partners and StepStone Group. Australia's Neara, which offers AI-powered predictive modeling software for critical infrastructure, raised a $31 million Series C led by EQT Group. Country Delight, a Bengaluru-based direct-to-consumer dairy products provider, raised $25 million in venture debt from Alteria Capital. Estonia's Modash, an creator-partnerships specialist, received an €11 million Series A led by henQ.

1

Activation Capital is seeking #startups to participate in their NEW Frontier BioHealth program. APPLY NOW! https://lnkd.in/dBiSQuNZ - ❗ Application Deadline: June 17, 2024 - 🏁 Program Kickoff: August 8, 2024 - 🎉 Program End: November 22, 2024 - 💻 Location: All virtual except for three in-person events. Travel costs will be covered! -💰 Investment: We do not invest and we do not take any equity. - 🔬 Startups transitioning #lifesciences innovations from research to commercialization, particularly those originating from academic or federal research labs, are highly encouraged to apply. - 🌟 Startups with a clear commercialization path, some initial funding (dilutive or non-dilutive), a full-time founder, licensing, optioning, or the ability to demonstrate control of their IP are highly encouraged to apply. More About the Program: -Website: https://lnkd.in/dBiSQuNZ -Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/dAFb_XpE -Meet with Jackie to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dF3-Ga3h #medicaldevice #pharma #biotech #diagnostic

40

2 Comments

🚀 Meet Our Advisors! We are excited to highlight that Neil Littman, Founding Partner of Bioverge Ventures and Partner of Riverine Ventures, as one of the esteemed advisors in our #H7 accelerator program. 👉 We are open for application for the 2024 Cohort of H7 Healthcare Accelerator, powered by H7 BioCapital. Early Bird Applications are open until 💥 July 20th 💥! 🦄 Apply for the Program: https://shorturl.at/TfJdB 🦄 Apply to Become Advisor: https://lnkd.in/eSbGpX28  📅 Early Bird Deadline: July 20th, 2024 🎯 About H7 Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/g3ycA8eE ------- 🎯Get to know our top-tier accelerator advisor - Neil Littman "Neil Littman, M.S. is Founder & CEO of Bioverge Ventures, a venture capital firm exclusively dedicated to investing in #earlystage, #cuttingedge #healthcare companies. Bioverge’s investment thesis is focused on companies spanning the intersection of health + tech that are utilizing advances in technology to modernize healthcare, from bench-to-bedside." "Previously, Neil was Vice President of Business Development at Notable Labs, an oncology startup and Bioverge portfolio company, where he led the development of global corporate partnerships and contributed to the strategic vision of Notable as part of the Senior Leadership Team. Neil oversaw business development at Notable through the successful completion of the company’s $40 million Series B and was instrumental in negotiating multiple terms sheets to in-license clinical stage oncology assets." 🌷Apply now to learn invaluable insights from Neil Littman get connected with our 100+ industrial leading experts, pitch to top #investors, and scale your #startup! 🥳 Once you're selected for #H7 accelerator cohort, you'll be part of the #H7 community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. #accelerator #venturecapital #fundraising #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #drugdevelopment #artificialintelligence #medicaldevices #hospitals #clinicaltrials #oncology #research #startup #founders #precisionmedicine #commercialization #sales

33

3 Comments

🚀 Meet Our Advisors! We are excited to highlight that Bill Reichert, General Partner of Pegasus Tech Ventures, as one of the esteemed advisors in our #H7 accelerator program. 👉 Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of H7 BioCapital's global healthcare accelerator. Apply now for the #H7 Accelerator Program Online. Early Bird Applications are open until 💥 July 20th 💥! 🦄 Apply for the Program: https://shorturl.at/TfJdB 🦄 Apply to Become Advisor: https://lnkd.in/eSbGpX28  📅 Early Bird Deadline: July 20th, 2024 🎯 About H7 Accelerator Program: https://lnkd.in/g3ycA8eE ------- 🎯Get to know our top-tier accelerator advisor - Bill Reichert! "Bill Reichert is a #veteran #entrepreneur, having been a founder at five startups, two of which went public, and he is a seasoned venture capital investor, with over 200 investments, several in unicorns, and several in #healthtech #startups." 🌷Apply now to learn invaluable insights from Bill Reichert and get connected with our 100+ industrial leading experts, pitch to top #investors, and scale your #startup! 🥳 Once you're selected for #H7 accelerator cohort, you'll be part of the #H7 community for life. Expand your business and expand your network with access to a talented group of founders, investors, mentors, and industry leaders. #accelerator #venturecapital #fundraising #healthcare #lifesciences #biotech #drugdevelopment #artificialintelligence #medicaldevices #entrepreneur #clinicaltrials #oncology #research #startup #founders

25

1 Comment

Very interesting to get the chance to talk to Torsten Osthus, of OSTHUS GROUP and cofounder of ZONTAL about #labdigitalization #scientificdata #FAIRdata #datastandards and their potential for #AI #ArtificialIntelligence application in the #lifesciences

16

Boston's vibrant health tech scene is fueled by world-class accelerators and incubators, empowering startups to drive digital health, biotech, and life sciences breakthroughs. Here’s a look at some key players: MassChallenge HealthTech—This accelerator helps startups transform health solutions across digital and biotech. It connects entrepreneurs with resources and mentors to drive meaningful change. LabCentral – A coworking lab space offering shared resources and lab facilities, LabCentral supports biotech and health tech startups by providing them with an innovative, collaborative environment. #Pagliuca Harvard Life Lab – Located at Harvard, this incubator offers lab and office space to promising biotech and life sciences startups, helping them scale groundbreaking health tech solutions. Richi Entrepreneurs – With a global outlook, Richi Entrepreneurs offers a unique two-week immersion for international health tech startups, connecting them with Boston’s local mentors, investors, and industry leaders. Xontogeny – Specializing in life sciences, Xontogeny partners with early-stage health tech companies, providing strategic guidance and operational support to accelerate their journey from concept to market. These incubators and accelerators are not just nurturing innovation—they’re powering the next generation of health solutions! 🌟 #BostonHealthTech #InnovationEcosystem #Biotech #HealthTech #StartupAccelerators

16

Attention of partners, managers, investment directors and private investors investing in Healthtech. Usually they ask you for money and participation in demo day. From me personally and the 4PM Ventures team for you another offer: 1. Please read our post below and express your opinion - do you agree with these theses or not. 2. Ask clarifying questions if they appear. 3. Add to friends if we do not know each other yet. 4. Send our offer to take part in the laboratory to your portfolio companies - the start of the program - a new format for supporting startups, supported by EIT Health, on June 12th. 5. Request an invitation to open a laboratory and a foresight about the future of healthcare, which will take place within the laboratory. More information about the laboratory on the 4PM Ventures page, link to registration in the first comment Dear colleagues, please note this offer: Nathan Kharchenko, Valentin Doronichev; Anna Gishko; Allan Gobbs; Yuri Mashintsev; Jacopo Mele; Marija Varadinova; Yury Kukushkin; Khaled Arwani; Kirill Vesselov; Nikolai Denisov Commercialization Reactor; Zaz Ventures Change Ventures LongeVC; Coöperatie VGZ #4pm; #vc; #health; #healthtech; #medicine

11

2 Comments

Check out this insightful panel discussion on precision therapeutics with our portfolio company Circular Genomics

7

May 6 2024 - 10 Notable Articles To Read Article: ‘Next wave of IPOs’ will arrive in summer, predicts biotech-focused VC partner Takeaway: The partner at Medicxi anticipates a surge in biotech initial public offerings (IPOs) during the summer. Source: Fierce Biotech Link: https://lnkd.in/d8XZHcKs Article: SVB Financial to sell VC business SVB Capital Takeaway: Pinegrove Capital Partners is set to purchase the venture capital enterprise, a newly formed entity supported by both Brookfield Asset Management and Sequoia Capital Heritage. Source: Reuters Link: https://lnkd.in/dDX5gP7F Article: Eye On AI: After Q4 Slowdown, AI-Related M&A Picked Back Up In Q1 Takeaway: In Q1 2024, there was an uptick in M&A exits, with 55 startups being acquired, marking an increase from Q4 2023. Source: Crunchbase Link: https://lnkd.in/dYbcfimk Article: Roark Capital completes $9.6bn Subway deal Takeaway: A private equity firm specializing in leveraged buyout investments within the franchise restaurant and food sectors has finalized the acquisition of Subway. Source: Private Equity Insights Link: https://lnkd.in/d88rwqYZ Article: Bolt closes €220M revolving credit facility: a step towards IPO Takeaway: The company aims to expedite the shift from individual car ownership to shared mobility, providing superior alternatives for various needs as part of its journey towards an IPO. Source: Tech.eu Link: https://lnkd.in/d_q7nCGK Article: The Stock Market Will Rise Nearly 10% More This Year, Money Managers Predict in Barron’s Latest Poll Takeaway: Numerous individuals anticipate that a stable economy will result in a more robust performance in the stock market. Source: Barron's Link: https://lnkd.in/d3tet-GY Article: Private equity firms step up plans to edge banks out of low-risk lending Takeaway: Apollo Global Management, Inc. issued a historic $40 billion in loans, reflecting a similar expansion seen among competitors such as KKR and Blackstone, as they raise long-term projections within this strategy. Source: Financial Times Link: https://lnkd.in/dv6AUJtb Article: Insight Partners’ Hinkle: M&A Is The Key To Unlocking Startup Liquidity This Year Takeaway: Many believe that the existing liquidity shortage stems from a dearth of exits in the startup market, leaving VCs with numerous illiquid assets. Source: Crunchbase Link: https://lnkd.in/dPvFPSMi Article: Rite Aid Closes a Quarter of Stores as It Navigates Bankruptcy Takeaway: At the time it filed for Chapter 11, the store was operational in 17 states and shuttered 520 locations within a span of seven months. Source: Bloomberg Link: https://lnkd.in/dhTUyf78 Article: Mubadala Capital plans $13.5bn biofuels investment in Brazil Takeaway: The fund also supported initiatives to establish a new stock exchange in Brazil and is augmenting its investments in the country. Source: Financial Times Link: https://lnkd.in/d4uUK6Pt #news #research #business

5