Healthcare is arguably the world’s biggest problem. Spending on healthcare in the US is close to 18% of gross domestic product and rising. We have an ever-growing clinical demand and ever-rising consumer expectations.
The traditional healthcare system is simply unsustainable and needs to change to support changing demographics and needs.
These strong forces are also starting to fuel significant investment in technology in the form of venture capitalbacked digital health companies.
Investment in digital health start-ups attracted $849m in the first half of this year – a 12% increase over the same period last year. During 2012 a total of 134 companies in this sector raised more than $2m in the US, according to Rock Health. Investment alone, however, will not address the issues.
Innovation in healthcare requires an ecosystem of patients, providers and payers. HealthXL was founded in September 2012 to address these challenges. Since launch, the programme has signed up more than 150 mentors from around the world including some high-profile individuals like Esther Dyson, Tim O’Reilly and Terry McGuire. The global team identifies the sharpest and most exciting thought leaders helping to create and nurture innovative ideas and technologies to transform the world’s healthcare systems. HealthXL has invested in seven start-ups for its first foray into digital health.
From Australia to Africa, US to Europe, HealthXL mentors are supporting some exciting entrepreneurs as they scale internationally with healthcare systems and multinational partners. HealthXL offers digital health start-ups an opportunity to network with other innovators and experienced companies such as IBM, Cleveland Clinic, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Personal Health Solutions and Silicon Valley Bank to leverage vast business and technical expertise. The philosophy is to leverage the many good ideas coming from every corner of the globe and to put them into practice.
On September 26, we will host the first HealthXL Summit in Silicon Valley, California. This is an exclusive invitation-only event for founders, investors and thought leaders from around the globe with a passion to solve some of the biggest issues in healthcare. The event is being hosted in Stanford Design School – http://healthxl.co/event/ healthxl-at-stanford-d-school/
HealthXL is the world’s first truly global digital health mentor network supporting ambitious start-ups from around the globe.