Announcing the Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship

The challenges of scaling healthcare startups are many. Digital Health founders encounter regulatory considerations, the challenge of navigating the industry’s numerous stakeholders and thinking through the incentives, time, and costs of demonstrating clinical outcomes to prove ROI. It’s discouraging to see founders develop potentially impactful technologies only to struggle with finding product market fit and scaling their business.

It’s my passion–and my life’s work–to help healthcare leaders avoid these potential pitfalls on the path to commercialization. And, it’s the motivation behind launching the Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship: To help the next generation of digital health founders and startups build sustainable businesses and create positive outcomes in health.

Through a partnership between MDisrupt and Menlo Ventures, we are launching the inaugural Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship. We are now accepting applications from founders interested in joining us. We will pack meaningful learning, networking, and mentorship into a two-day event (May 4-5, 2023), followed by ongoing community interactions that will connect startup leaders with fellow founders, top investors, industry stakeholders, and potential collaborators.

My co-host and partner in putting this event together is my friend and collaborator Greg Yap, Partner at Menlo Ventures. Greg invests in early-stage teams trying to solve significant problems in life science and healthcare. As an executive, entrepreneur, and now as a VC, Greg has focused on improving health through technology. He is committed to helping founders improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and increase access to better care.

Together, we are gathering leaders from across the healthcare ecosystem to help early-stage founders accelerate their path to scalable, sustainable business.

Event Details

Founders of Digital Health Startups grapple with many of the same common challenges that arise when building a company. They also have to manage the complexity of building within the healthcare ecosystem of payors, providers, regulators, employers, and health systems.

To support these early-stage founders as they build, MDisrupt and Menlo Ventures created the Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship with the mission of helping digital health companies accelerate their path to market and scale their businesses through expertise, access, and mentorship.

Capacity is limited

We want to create an atmosphere conducive to connection and conversation. The event is invitation-only and limited to 30 Founders/CEOs. Please scroll down for information on how you, or someone you know, can apply for consideration.

Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship
May 4–5, 2023
Redwood City, CA

Conference Sessions

This intimate two-day conference, held in early May, will offer access to an unparalleled network of industry-leading experts and decision-makers. Selected participants will have the opportunity to attend conference sessions on topics that will touch on the following:

• The journey from concept to company
• Playbooks for success and how to scale
• Business models and channel strategies
• Engaging payors, employers, and health systems
• Regulatory considerations
• The importance of clinical outcomes
• Fundraising in a challenging economy

For more details on the event and ongoing updates to the agenda and speaker list, visit the Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship page.

Networking

The Digital Health Founder’s Fellowship was designed to create meaningful and lasting connections. The immersive/interactive nature of the event will introduce attendees to top-tier investors, fellow founders, industry leaders, and critical collaborators who can help them on their journey.

Mentorship

As part of the program, each founder will be thoughtfully matched to a mentor who can provide support as they navigate building their business.

Cost

This invitation-only event is free to attend. The hosts will cover all conference costs, networking reception, and food/drink during the event.

Participating founders will only have to cover the cost of travel and lodging.

To apply for consideration

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from attending, please fill out an application here. We look forward to reviewing your application.

Selection Criteria

To be considered, applicants must be:

• A founder/CEO of a Digital Health company
• Representing an early-stage company (Seed-stage through Series B funded)
• Preparing go-to-market and business models
• Leading a company based in the US or planning their US go-to-market strategy
• Available to attend in person May 4-5 in Redwood City, CA

Please keep in mind these key dates:

• December 6, 2022: Application submissions open
• February 16, 2023: Application submissions close
• March 1, 2023: 30 Founder/CEOs selected to participate will be notified
• May 4-5, 2023: Join us for a two-day immersive digital health experience that connects the most accomplished digital health founders, experts, and VCs who can help you accelerate your path to market.

We look forward to reviewing your application. Good luck!