Today on Health in 2 Point 00, the survey says digital health is optimistic! Find out more on the other side. On Episode 207, Jess asks me about Aetion getting $110 million bringing its total to $212 million working on real world evidence for pharma companies, and Indonesian telehealth company Halodoc gets $80 million. MSK startup Vori Health gets $45 million—can they compete with Hinge? Next, Heartbeat Health gets $20 million for cardiovascular health. Finally, Andreesen throws $10.5 million in a Series A to Memora Health which is a patient messaging system. Don’t forget to join us on Clubhouse tonight for more! —Matthew Holt
The Catalyst @ Health 2.0/Wipfli State of Digital Health Survey
By MATTHEW HOLT & ELIZABETH BROWN
Last year was a remarkable time for digital health. Obviously it was pretty unusual and tragic for the world in general as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc. We mourn those lost, and we praise our front line health workers and scientists. But for digital health companies, in almost no time 2020 changed from fear of a market collapse to what became a massive funding boom.
But no-one has reported from the ground what this means for digital health companies, of which there are perhaps 10-15,000 worldwide with maybe 6-8,000 based in the United States. Despite the headlines, most are not pulling down $200m funding rounds or SPACing out. So working with professional services firm Wipfli, we at Catalyst @ Health 2.0 decided to find out what digital health companies experienced in this most extraordinary year.
Between Thanksgiving 2020 and mid-March 2021, we surveyed more than 300 members of the digital health ecosystem, focusing on leaders from more than 180 private (and a few public) digital health companies. We asked them about their market, their experience during COVID-19, and what they thought of the environment. We also asked them about the mechanics of running their businesses. The results are pretty interesting.
The Key Message: COVID-19 was very good for digital health companies–on average. Most are very optimistic but, despite the massive increase in funding since the brief (but real) post-lockdown crash, most digital health companies remain small and struggling for funding, revenue, and customers.
We also heard from investors, and a bigger group we called “users” (mostly payers, providers, pharma, non-healthcare tech companies, e-patients & consultants). While these “users” also saw a big trend towards the use of (and, to a lesser extent, paying for) digital health tools and services, they were not as gung-ho as were digital health companies or investors, who were even more optimistic.
The summary deck containing the key findings is below and there is more analysis and commentary below the jump.
Special Event: The Catalyst @ Health 2.0/Wipfli Survey on the State of Digital Health Results Presentation
TODAY Tuesday, May 11th at 2pm ET/11am PT — RSVP here
Back in November of last year, Catalyst @ Health 2.0, supported by professional services firm Wipfli, launched the Survey on the State of Digital Health, with the goal of creating a comprehensive analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on digital health companies and the rest of the ecosystem. Between the end of 2020 and thru March 2021 we received detailed responses from 300+ digital health aficionados including 180 digital health companies. We’re sure this is the most detailed assessment of what’s happening on the ground in digital health companies you’ll find anywhere.
Join us at 2pm ET/11am PT on Tuesday, May 11th for The Catalyst @ Health 2.0/Wipfli Survey on the State of Digital Health Results Presentation, you’ll see the full results from me & Catalyst’s Elizabeth Brown, hear from Wipfli’s Paul Johnson & Girish Ramachandra, and get reaction to the results from our guests Ryan Johnson, lawyer at Fredrikson & Byron; Sunny Kumar, investor at GSR Ventures;, and digital health CEOs Helena Plater-Zyberk, Supportiv; and Mudit Garg, Qventus.
I think the zoom is full, but you can see it livestreamed below at 11 am PT – 2pm ET – Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 204 | Vida, Headway, & Neuroelectrics, plus RCM acquires VisitPay
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I am over the moon excited about Chelsea’s Champion’s League semi-final win. But on Episode 204, we have some big deals to cover too. First, Vida Health gets $110 million in a Series D bringing their total to $188 million. Next, R1 RCM acquires VisitPay for $300 million, integrating patient financial engagement into their revenue cycle management offerings. It’s Mental Health Awareness Month, and mental health startup Headway raises $70 million – do they have a chance in that crowded space? Finally, Neuroelectrics gets $17.5 million for their neurostimulation cap helping with epilepsy and depression. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 203 | Privia goes public, Vocera acquires PatientSafe Solutions & more
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess hardly knows the value of $100 million anymore – is it a salary, is it an entire fund, is it one single round? On Episode 203, Jess and I cover Vocera buying PatientSafe Solutions and Privia going public with a $3.7 billion market cap. Cash-paid healthcare services company Sesame gets $24 million in a Series B, Ceribell gets $53 million in a Series C for its portable EEG, and Summus Global gets $21 million in a Series B providing virtual specialist care. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 202 | Virta, Seqster, Kaia, Capsule & Accolade acquires PlushCare
On Health in 2 Point 00, Jess and I talk about TDOC earnings before getting into today’s deals. First, Virta Health scores $133 million in a round led by Tiger Global for its keto diabetes reversal program. Seqster raises $12 million in its Series A, and there are some interesting investors in this one. MSK startup Kaia Health raises $75 million, bringing its total to $123 million. Online pharmacy Capsule raises $300 million, bringing its total to $570 million. Finally Accolade acquires virtual primary care platform PlushCare in a $450 million deal. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 201 | European Funding Deals – complete with accents!
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, we’re back from our 200th episode celebration! In Episode 201, we have an all-European funding deals episode for you, and I even attempt to answer every story in an accent relevant to the company. First, French insurance company Alan raises €185 million. Scottish company Current Health raises $43 million in a Series B for remote patient monitoring. Thankfully we have an English company in the mix, Proximie raises $38 million, bringing their total to $48 million – they do AR for the OR. Kry, a Swedish telehealth company with 3 million visits, raises $316 million bringing their total to $570M. Finally, German company Caresyntax raises $100 million bringing their total to $177M doing data analytics around surgery. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 199 | Olive acquires Empiric plus raises by Medable & Papa
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I air some of my grudges as we get into our deals for the day. In the third extension of their Series C, Medable gets another $78 million bringing their total to $217 million. Olive acquires Empiric Health, expanding into surgical data analytics – where does this fit in with Sean Lane’s five-point strategic plan? Finally, Papa gets a $60 million raise and Anthem, Blackstone and K Health launch a joint venture. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 198 | Microsoft buys Nuance & lots of IPO rumors
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, Jess claims to be blameless for the drama between Jonathan Bush and Glen Tullman. On Episode 198, we talk about Microsoft buying Nuance for $16 billion and $3 billion in debt – is Microsoft taking over healthcare, and is this going to slow Nuance down? Cohere Health raises $36 million in a Series B, working on improving prior authorizations between health plans and providers. We wrap up with a lightning round of IPO rumors regarding Privia Health, VillageMD, and Bright Health. —Matthew Holt
#Healthin2Point00, Episode 197 | BrightInsight, SteadyMD, CirrusMD, and Cleo
Today on Health in 2 Point 00, I’m getting my shots soon! On Episode 197, General Catalyst is throwing more money around – $101 million goes to BrightInsight for its digital health insights management platform. SteadyMD raises $25 million bringing its total to $31 million, and CirrusMD raises $20 million in a Series C bringing its total to $47 million. Is there room for more telehealth companies? Finally, fertility benefits company Cleo gets $40 million, bringing its total up to $80 million – this was a hot space last year, what’s going on now? —Matthew Holt
