a16z Live How Startups are Fixing Healthcare Friction
9 snips
Jun 25, 2025 
Trey Holterman, co-founder of Tennr, tackles the frustrating black hole in patient referrals, while Christophe Rimann, co-founder of Camber, aims to simplify insurance claims for quicker payments. They explore how operational improvements, rather than just tech, can transform healthcare. The duo emphasizes the importance of building trust in workflows, leveraging AI for better outcomes, and aligning incentives among all stakeholders. They also share insights on New York City's unique startup culture and offer advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs.
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Patient Referral 'Black Hole'
- Patients only make it to their referred provider under 50% of the time, causing a "black hole" effect in healthcare transitions.
- Trey Holterman learned about this problem from personal family experiences and group chats with his mom, a family medicine doctor.
Why Now for Healthcare Tech
- The shift to recurring healthcare models and COVID-19 drove the initial opportunity for innovation in healthcare payments.
- AI and language models have recently accelerated automation in insurance claims and payer interactions.
Misconception of Provider Competence
- New York healthcare providers are incredibly competent and excel at operational change.
- Trey Holterman was surprised that providers outside coasts are highly skilled and drive operational success effectively.