Live at ViVE: Investing in Diverse Founders of Healthcare Tech
We know that diverse founders only receive a fraction of VC funding. And that healthcare inequality is exacerbated by the lack of diverse perspectives and solutions in healthcare tech. But what if there was a venture fund that focused on diverse founders building healthcare technology for the communities they come from?
On this episode of The Beat, Justin joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss healthcare portfolios that focus on diversity and disadvantaged communities. Justin shares examples of Seae’s portfolio companies, explaining how Functional Fluidics serves patients with sickle cell disease and Kiyatec helps cancer patients make personalized therapy decisions.
Listen in for insight on implementing new innovations in diverse patient populations and learn how Seae is moving the needle on health equity by investing in diverse founders of healthcare tech.
About Justin Williams:
Justin Williams is Principal at Seae Ventures, an investment firm specializing in early-stage healthcare technology companies founded by diverse entrepreneurs. In his role at Seae, Justin leads portfolio sourcing, deal due diligence, financial modeling and portfolio management.
Topics Covered:
- What inspired Justin’s transition from finance to healthcare investing
- How its mission to advance equity through opportunity drew Justin to Seae
- How Functional Fluidics serves patients with sickle cell disease
- The benefit of founders being a part of the communities they serve
- Justin’s passion for investing in diverse founders who help underserved communities
- How Kiyatec helps cancer patients make personalized treatment decisions
- Identifying how certain communities, ethnicities and genders respond to cancer therapies
- Seae’s strategies for finding new portfolio companies
- The diversity among Seae’s team and the company’s group of founders
- How Seae works with FQHCs to implement tech solutions in diverse patient populations
- Justin’s advice for aspiring VCs from diverse communities
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