Thomas (Seungpill) Jueng

Video is a key aspect of an AI-first healthcare ecosystem. There will be a post-AI world soon where the way we interact with technology will fundamentally change. The healthcare ecosystem will evolve to becoming more invisible and assistive, allowing clinicians and patients to interact with each other in a more empathetic way. And technology becomes a true enabler. This will require democratizing access to AI to the healthcare world. And few companies do that as well as Zoom does. We are excited about our strategic partnership with the Zoom team and excited to bring AI features like clinical documentation to the 40% of US healthcare (and global!) that uses Zoom as its Telehealth solution. - Suki Assistant for Epic, Oracle Cerner, Meditech, and Athena systems - Suki Platform for EHRs who want to embed the power of AI inside them - Suki Platform that works with clinical communication companies, medical devices, And now Telehealth Onwards. Let's keep doing this! https://lnkd.in/dWjPwKwJ

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Open-source models can be a strong lever for increasing gross margins at AI companies, especially those that have hefty cost structures (e.g., enterprise sales orgs that require significant customer success or implementation resources, as well forward-deployed AI services models common in healthcare and life sciences). One of many reasons to maintain a modular and flexible stack with minimal dependencies when building an AI company. More on the importance of flexibility in the AI stack: https://lnkd.in/eA2XATRk h/t Delip Rao #ai #artificialintelligence #generativeai #healthcare

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One of the most important concepts we introduced in our recent Healthcare AI roadmap is the notion of “Modality—Business Model—Market fit.” This concept describes how the delivery method and business model of AI in healthcare directly shape its potential to create value. There are many possible combinations of modalities and business models in healthcare. AI can be delivered as software, copilots, agents, services, diagnostics, or therapeutics, supported by business models ranging from usage-based and volumetric pricing to performance-based and shared savings arrangements. Nailing selection of modality and business model is essential for AI companies seeking large market opportunities and profitable operations. As we describe in an example with computer vision-based diabetic retinopathy screening, modality and business model selection can drive a difference in TAM by upwards of 25x, and has serious implications for overall margin structures. Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK7rjpJz

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AI is revolutionizing healthcare, and SoftBank Group Corp.'s latest move proves it. The tech giant's joint venture with Tempus in Japan aims to tackle cancer using AI-powered personalized medicine. SB Tempus plans to analyze genomic and clinical data to provide tailored treatment suggestions. What's striking is that only 1% of Japanese patients have had genomic testing, compared to 30% in the US. I think this venture could dramatically improve access to cutting-edge care. Masayoshi Son's vision of AI being 10,000 times smarter than humans in a decade might sound far-fetched, but initiatives like this show real-world applications. It's not just about cancer either they're eyeing expansion into neuropsychology, radiology, and cardiology. I'm cautiously optimistic about AI in healthcare. While it promises groundbreaking advancements, we must ensure patient privacy and ethical use of data. If SB Tempus can navigate these challenges, it could be a game changer for personalized medicine in Japan and beyond.

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Generally surprised to not see more hardware vendors in healthcare and life sciences partnering with AI-first companies. When the zone of genius of a company is hardware, it's difficult to imagine that same team achieving parity on an AI product – Apple may be the greatest example of success in this realm, and still has secured many AI capabilities via targeted M&A (Siri, Turi, Xnor.ai, Voysis, Inductiv). Given the importance of leveraged distribution models in the ossified industries of healthcare and life sciences, it seems there is untapped opportunity for more hardware manufacturers to partner and co-develop AI products with startups. Control over the way data is captured and processed is critical for building high quality training data sets, which creates an interesting feedback loop between hardware companies and potential AI-first startup partners. Interested to explore this further with folks in healthcare and life sciences hardware!

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According to the latest report from Rock Health, digital health funding in Q1 2024 totaled $2.7B across 133 deals, with an average deal size of $20.6M. It doesn’t break out device-related investments, but most medtech founders I meet these days are being forced to chase tiny rounds made up of endless little checks, consuming valuable energy and slowing their progress. The benign neglect of this next generation of diagnostic and therapeutic devices is counterproductive and surprising. Given the crowded virtual care market, for example, I’d expect more such companies would be exploring medtech partnerships, investments or acquisitions that'd enable them to back integrate into delivering sharper, and more differentiated, care and treatment. This is exactly what Maverix Medical is doing from the other direction: Reshaping the entire spectrum of lung cancer care by integrating more advanced + effective approaches to screening and diagnosis, treatment and therapeutics, and even palliative care…And putting it all to work through an innovative provider network. One notable investor exception is Y Combinator partner Surbhi Sarna who’s been backing great teams like Selera Medical (YC W24) doing foundational work on ambitious medical devices. Without more support from investors like her, we’re going to increasingly find ourselves stuck with the incremental portfolio improvements from the incumbents, and that’s just not nearly enough.

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Join us at “The Open Source Monetization Blueprint” event on May 1st, at MindsDB SF AI Collective! (To Register ---> https://lu.ma/uvr1eku0) 🤖 Opensourcing has an unmatched distribution power, yet, sparking many builders to ponder the future of their commercialization strategies. 🌉 Inspired by my recent chats with open-source founders, including recent ones with Jorge (MindsDB) and Amr (Vectara), I'm thrilled to organize this event to bridge connections among brilliant founders like Adam (MindsDB), Amr (Vectara & Cloudera), Umur (Ubicloud & Citus Data(Microsoft)), and Joseph (OSS Capital & Kubecon) 🎤 Each panelist brought amazing companies to life and each will bring unique perspectives to the table. I'm thrilled to dive into the pressing questions we're all curious about! Key Questions on the Minds of Early Stage Founders: 🤔 Can early enthusiasts be leveraged as a growth strategy? 🤔 Does our community or user base align with our long-term scalability goals? 🤔 How can we monetize open-source software without alienating our community? 🤔 What defines our ICP? Are there enough potential customers, and how do we get to them? We will bring light into these and even more! Looking forward to come together with the friends & community!

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September 09 2024 – 5 Notable Articles To Read Article: French femtech Sonio acquired by Samsung Electronics Takeaway: The deal is set to close after the company's second round of FDA clearance in 2024, with Sonio's reporting and workflow solution being implemented at several sites across the U.S. Source: Tech.eu Link: https://lnkd.in/daM6RfF5 Article: Sozo Ventures To Raise $500M Fund Takeaway: Founded in 2012, Sozo Ventures invests in and supports IT companies as they expand globally. The firm backs industry leaders in advanced data technologies, e-commerce, enterprise cloud, fintech, IoT, healthcare IT, and other emerging sectors. Source: VCWire Link: https://lnkd.in/dpqBYNfz Article: Exclusive - Intel Corporation CEO to pitch board on plans to shed assets, cut costs, source says Takeaway: The plan will include ideas on how to shave overall costs by selling businesses, including its programmable chip unit Altera, that Intel can no longer afford to fund from the company’s once-sizeable profit. Source: Reuters Link: https://lnkd.in/dxchSssR Article: Active ETFs set to hit $1T in assets Takeaway: The gains represent a significant rise in recent years for active ETFs, which have existed since at least 2006 but didn't reach $100B in assets until 2018, according to ETFGI data. Source: Financial Times Link: https://lnkd.in/dBkHU4RK Article: The IPO Market Will End 2024 On A Low Note Takeaway: The buyer views valuation concerns as a less significant factor holding back IPOs. After the market downturn, many former unicorns had to accept lower valuations. However, that process is largely finished, even if not everyone is satisfied with the outcome. Source: Crunchbase Link: https://lnkd.in/da26NZGp #news #research #business #ai

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David Yi (Ethos VC) a.k.a "The VC who hates most VCs" on his Personal Journey and Perspective on Growth:  "As an eight-time founder with two exits, I've seen the landscape from multiple angles. It's not about being a hero but about building a team, learning, and evolving. Whether it's in education or tech, the journey is about adapting and finding your path, not just in Korea but globally." https://lnkd.in/gVduV3MQ #startupswithseoul Chang (CK) Kim

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🌟 7 Crucial Elements for Scaling Startups to Successful Exits 🌟 Reflecting on my recent experience at the OPEN Silicon Valley Forum in Santa Clara, some of us engaged in a deep discussion on what repeatedly drives startups from inception to successful exits. Our collective experience pointed to these seven essential elements: 1️⃣ Timing is Everything: Ensure the market and technology are ready for your solution. Being too early or too late can hinder success. 2️⃣ Align with Your "Why": Success requires internal motivation. Knowing your “why” keeps you resilient and purpose-driven. 3️⃣ Master the Problem, Not Just the Product: Deep understanding of the problem is far more critical than focusing solely on a product or idea. 4️⃣ Define Culture from the Start: The first five hires set the tone. Invest in "A" players who embody the culture you envision. 5️⃣ Obsess Over User Experience: A relentless focus on user experience can make or break your product’s adoption. 6️⃣ Build for Scale from Day One: Architecting for growth is not optional—it’s essential for long-term success. 7️⃣ Map Out Your Go-to-Market Strategy Early: Before building, have a clear thesis on how to generate revenue and achieve product-market fit. These principles are tried and true across multiple industries. If you’re launching a startup or scaling a business, how do these resonate with your experience? What would you add to the list? #startups #entrepreneurship #growth #scaling #productmarketfit #OPENsiliconvalley #innovation #founders Tashfeen Suleman Amer Haider Umair Khan Junaid Qurashi Wardah Inam

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SCOOP: Healthtech startup Regard has closed on a Series B funding round. The startup is rumored to have raised a Series B round at a $350 million valuation led by top VC firm Oak HC/FT, Business Insider has learned. Regard uses AI to automate clinical tasks like synthesizing patient data for documentation, and can even suggest diagnoses. The startup had set out to raise around $30 million, according to people with knowledge of the efforts. Get the scoop on Regard's raise (including revenue figures!) in Business Insider:

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It's been 100 years since Hans Berger made the first EEG recording of the brain, but we still don't fully understand what those brainwaves are telling us. That's why I was so excited to talk with Dimitris Fotis Sakellariou and Kris Pahuja, the co-founders of Piramidal (YC W24), a Y Combinator company building an AI model to unlock the secrets of brainwaves. Dimitris, a neuroscientist with a PhD, and Kris, a tech executive, have a unique story. They've combined their expertise to turn their groundbreaking idea into a thriving startup. On this episode of Lobster Talks - Y Combinator Secrets, we talked about Piramidal's journey, including: - The challenges of building a groundbreaking AI model for brainwaves. - The importance of data access and the ethical considerations surrounding this sensitive technology. - How Y Combinator has accelerated their growth. - Their ambitious vision for the future of brainwave AI, including expanding beyond EEG to create personalized AI solutions. Listen to the full episode to learn about Piramidal's mission and their vision for a future where AI can unlock the secrets of the human brain: Listen to the full episode now: https://lnkd.in/eaJuUZ-Q #ycombinator #venturecapital #investing #startup #growth #neuroscience #ai #artificialintelligence #brainwaves #lobstercapital #piramidal

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"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

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Incredibly excited to share our updated Healthcare AI thesis. This is not a market map – in 4,000 words, we dive deeply into the research, products, business models, and market entry points that are reimagining healthcare with AI. More specifically, we cover: • Translating AI research into real-world products • Mapping modalities (software, copilots, agents, services, diagnostics, therapeutics) to problems in healthcare • Designing AI business models that unlock billion-dollar markets • Closing current gaps in healthcare AI infrastructure • Distinguishing AI platforms from point solutions Let us know what you think ⤵️

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📰 Solo VCs are rising in popularity once again. This means only one General Partner is leading the firm, versus multiples. 💔 Why? There are GP breakups going on all around us after partnerships have been tested by the market for years now. The bar to co-found a venture firm with a partner is very high. Those GPs that thought they might graft another one on in the short term to share the load are stopping in their tracks to deeply consider those implications. 🌱 Many are opting to bring in more junior talent and grow them into Partner roles instead. It’ll take time and capital to be able to do that as the firm grows. Talked to 3 diff GPs about this at dinner last night and we’re all leaning toward that approach in our short and long term planning. 💡 FYI - this is just an observation of the moment we’re in. There are plenty of firms thriving with full partnerships as well as solo GPs. But it’s worth calling out that new partnerships are particularly risky right now, especially if the partners haven’t worked with each other for a long time.

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The GLP-1 space has continued to explode, with the potential for impact expanding to cardiovascular risk, sleep apnea, and liver disease. So who are the emerging players poised to challenge Lilly and Novo? The incoming players to watch are a mix of startups and incumbents. In the startup realm, Viking Therapeutics, Inc., and Altimmune, Inc. have gained significant attention as their GLP-1 candidates demonstrate solid weight-loss outcomes. For San Diego based Viking, weekly doses of VK2735 delivered weight loss of up to 13% compared to placebo in a Phase 2 trial. Perhaps most exciting, the weight loss did not plateau at any time during the 13 week study, suggesting longer duration doses would result in further weight loss. Meanwhile, Altimmune's Pemvidutide (being studied for both obesity and MASH) is on track for an end of phase 2 FDA meeting in Q3 of this year. Notably, Pemvidutide has showed promise in limiting the amount of weight loss derived from muscle, which is a notable problem with the existing GLP-1s. A recent phase 2 trial showed only ~25% of weight loss was from lean mass, more in line with the ratio seen in typical diet & exercise programs. There are also several incumbents working hard to establish their presence. Roche's $2.7B acquisition of California-based Carmot Therapeutics, Inc. Therapeutics in December and Amgen's MariTide are both notable. Roche recently announced data from a Phase 1B study for CT-388 showing placebo-adjusted weight loss of ~19%, with 85% of participants seeing weight loss of more than 10%. Not to be left out, Amgen has recently advanced MariTide into Phase 2 studies, with Phase 1 results published in February showing weight loss of up to 15% in 12 weeks, with some dosage levels only required once a month. To have a credible chance at challenging the existing market leaders, new GLP-1s will have to demonstrate meaningful improvements on the following: 1. Dosage - most approved therapies today (with the exception of Rybelsus) are subcutaneous injections, given weekly. Having an easier form (tablet) or frequency (bi-weekly or even monthly) would be a big advantage. 2. Preservation of lean muscle mass - helping patients derive weight gain from regular adipose tissue instead of muscle mass. 3. Benefits beyond weight loss. Novo's recent FDA label expansion for Wegovy for reducing the risk of serious cardiovascular events provides a blueprint of how to expand the area these medicines can be helpful in. While there are many companies active in the space, it's worth noting just how large a lead Lilly and Novo have in this future $100B+ market. A recent GlobalData report noted that even by 2029, these two giants will have ~80% of the market between them. That said, 20% of a $100B market is still a sizable prize for other innovators, and continued innovation will only help patients.

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Imagine swallowing the competition whole. That's what many players in tech do via roll-up strategies, gobbling up smaller firms to deliver richer solutions and amass greater market share. Where else are roll-up strategies common? // HEALTHCARE Picture being a patient at a medical practice that’s been part of a roll-up in Healthcare Services. It's an industry ripe for roll-ups due to its fragmented nature and potential for greater efficiency. // CONSUMER SERVICES Or let's say you needed your HVAC serviced, and notice your local repairman is now part of a bigger Consumer Services entity? Centralized management and scale economy turn these localized businesses into roll-up targets. // FINANCIAL SERVICES Think about your insurance agent or wealth management advisor. They're working in complex, highly regulated environments. In the Financial Services sector, roll-ups offer an effective way to consolidate expertise, streamline operations, and enhance customer offerings. // MANUFACTURING Now, imagine driving past factories under a new name — the result of Manufacturing and Industrial Services roll-ups. Bulk purchasing reduces costs, enhances production capabilities, and expands geographical footprints. // REAL ESTATE Lastly, envision your real estate brokerage firm. The industry sees roll-ups as a strategic move to increase market penetration, enhance service offerings, and hike up portfolio value. Roll-ups play a huge role in most industries, rather like a snowball rolling downhill, gaining momentum, and size. Are you seeing roll-ups in your sector or considering M&A?

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M13 is thrilled to lead the Series A in RadiantGraph which is focused on personalization in healthcare. As we continue to invest in early stage companies it is abundantly clear that the biggest indicator of success is the founder and his or her ability to execute on their vision of the future. In this case, I don't think I have seen much better founder-market fit than we have with founder and CEO Anmol Madan. We believe in his vision: in order to have the best patient outcomes in healthcare we need increased personalization and AI is the breakthrough to get us there. Anmol started one of the pioneering digital health companies Ginger and then was Chief Data Scientist at Livongo and Teledoc. He has done it all: early stage, late stage, public company. And he deeply understands the nuances of the healthcare market from all angles which is critical for success. While there are many players building healthcare-specific AI capabilities, RadiantGraph is focused on outcomes: The platform is already processing personalization models for more than 3.5 million people, despite launching just last year. Excited to partner with my friend Adam D'Augelli and the great True Ventures again and Morgan Blumberg who has been deep in the healthcare market with me for many years. More on our thesis in the blog below. https://lnkd.in/evDDmC3W

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Looking beyond #VC funding for your #startup? Aakash Shah of Wyndly (YC W21) reveals how he built a multi-million dollar #healthtech company using creative capital strategies. Learn how he leveraged Y Combinator's network and alternative funding methods to revolutionize allergy treatment. In case you missed it, you can watch the #FundraisingDemystified #podcast here: https://lnkd.in/eZT63YS4

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