#70: Healthtech - the fastest growing VC sector?
The 1 minute healthtech roundup. A pigeon could deliver it. A pigeon suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Hey friends,
This week: $250m European focussed fund closes, why sharing your name with a COVID variant is less than ideal, and the three big trends to look out for this year in healthtech.* Oh, and Shakira (of honest hips fame) makes an unwarranted appearance.
*Hint - they’re the same three trends they’ve been for the last 10 years.
News Bites 🥪
💰 European AI healthtechs cash in as investors bet big on sector - Funding for AI-driven healthtechs has doubled in the past year, and VC interest is showing no signs of slowing (except for last week, where Pigeon said VC might be cancelled altogether). Reports suggest it could become the fastest growing VC sector in the next few years.
🎮 3 healthtech trends to watch in 2022-3 - The only good thing about nothing changing in healthtech since 2006 is that it allows Pigeon to Google “Top Hits 2006” and be reminded of Shakira’s club classic Hips Don't Lie (feat. Wyclef Jean). Thinking of dropping a remix next year called CIPs Don’t Lie about the fidelity of sustainable cost improvement programmes.
💰 MTIP Closes Second Healthtech Growth Fund Above Target With $250M of Commitments - MTIP announced the closing of its MTIP Fund II at $250 million in capital commitments, continuing its predecessor fund’s strategy of investing in growing and innovative healthtech companies across Europe.
👑 Prince William makes a guest appearance on Apple Fitness+ - As part of Apple Fitness+’s Time to Walk Series, Prince William will discuss mental fitness and the stigma around mental health.
🤖 Principles alone cannot guarantee ethical AI - Despite the initial credibility granted to a principled approach to AI ethics by the connection to principles in medical ethics, there are reasons to be concerned about its future impact on AI development and governance,
🪑 Network chairs write open letter on NHS IT organisation changes - The chairs of the Digital Health Networks have written an open letter to Amanda Pritchard and Dr Timothy Ferris to urge that the digital momentum is not lost following the announcement that NHS Digital and NHSX is to merge with NHS England and Improvement. Pigeon is hoping they merge NHS SBS soon so we can have NHSEIDXSBS.
🦠 MSP Omicron Solutions has ‘gone global’ due to sharing its name with latest strain - "Oh Sh*t" was the knee-jerk reaction from the MD of Hertfordshire-based MSP Omicron Solutions when he first learned that his business now shared a name with the latest Covid-19 variant.
What to Listen to 🔊
🧠 The Healthtech Podcast #254 - The Story of Sensyne Health
- This week James is joined by Martin Gouldstone, CBO at Sensyne Health. Martin is a 30-year life-sciences veteran in business development and corporate finance with deep experience in sourcing and closing major strategic collaborations in both the digital health and pharmaceutical industries.
⚕️ How can healthcare unlock the power of data connectivity? - McKinsey’s pod this week talks to Datavant CEO Pete McCabe to discuss current issues, such as data fragmentation and access, the benefits of tokenization, value-based care, and the need for neutrality.
Opportunities 💰
🖌️ Head of Design, Birdie - Call us biased, but working for any company with a bird-based name is better than working for one without a bird-based name. Birdie raised this year, make great caretech, and have named their values The Birdie Way. It’s a 10/10 from Pigeon. (Worth noting that none of the values in The Birdie Way involve eating discarded scotch eggs from the floor by a wheelie bin, so Pigeon is concerned they may not actually be birds.)
🛠 Clinical Advisory Board - Pigeon is always being approached by clinicians looking to work with healthtech companies, and healthtech companies looking for clinicians for their advisory board. Fit either of those categories? Get in touch here.
(It's like Hinge but with less catfishing and more discussions around whitepapers. Suppose that depends how you use Hinge actually.)