How Can Digital Health Startups Work with Health Insurers and Big Pharma?
December 17, 2014
News Article
A previous article noted that risk capital is fleeing or stagnant in most of health care. The exception is digital health. StartUp Health, a New York investor in new healthcare ventures, reported that $5 billion was raised for new digital health businesses through the third quarter, versus $2.8 billion in all of 2013. 2014 Q3 alone saw $1.7 billion raised, versus $946 million in 2013 Q3. Where is all this capital coming from? Since 2010, the three largest investors in digital health are Merck’s Global Health Innovation Fund, Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Partners (founded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association) and Qualcomm Ventures. It is remarkable to see the venture arms of a leading research-based drug company, the largest association of health insurers, and the company that invented mobile technology all dominate this space.
