Health:Further 144 - Why Startups Need Half the Capital And Who’s Getting Cut First
In this episode, Marcus and Vic break down the Federal Reserve’s indecision on rate cuts, mass tech layoffs accelerated by AI, and why startups no longer need as much capital. They discuss major VC moves in healthcare, including Tennr, Sword Health, and Nabla, along with General Catalyst’s hospital acquisition. The episode also covers Medicaid cuts, fractures in the Republican party, and the Supreme Court’s decision on gender-affirming care. Plus, stablecoins get a bipartisan boost, AI companions for seniors show promise, and tensions rise between OpenAI and Microsoft over cloud exclusivity and IP rights.
Links
0:51 - The Fed Waits Out the Tariff Economy WSJ
3:50 - The Biggest Companies Across America Are Cutting Their Workforces WSJ
6:01 - Amazon CEO Says AI Will Lead to Smaller Workforce WSJ
12:19 - Microsoft Plans to Cut Thousands More Employees WSJ
13:49 - Tennr clinches $101M to build out AI that automates patient referral process Fierce Healthcare
16:30 - Sword Health lands $40M, launches AI-based mental health solution Fierce Healthcare
18:36 - Nabla banks $70M series C to build out agentic AI for clinical workflows Fierce Healthcare
19:20 - Ohio Greenlights First-Ever Venture-Capital Hospital Acquisition WSJ
20:42 - Senate Bill Would Make Deep Cuts to Medicaid, Setting Up Fight With House NYT
27:46 - AHIP 2025: Insurer coalition vows to fight Trump budget bill to final hour Fierce Healthcare
28:44 - Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on gender affirming care for minors Fierce Healthcare
32:37 - Senate passes GENIUS Act despite crypto corruption concerns Axios
42:30 - Humana’s cautious defense of Medicare Advantage Healthcare Dive
44:59 - Episource ransomware attack leaked patient health data Healthcare IT News
45:18 - Ascension agrees to acquire Amsurg to expand ambulatory surgery reach Healthcare Dive
45:26 - Headspace Launches Insurance-Covered Therapy Direct to Consumers HIT Consultant
46:03 - Eli Lilly to Acquire Verve Therapeutics for Up to $1.3 Billion WSJ
46:25 - A Cutting-Edge Cancer Therapy Offers Hope for Patients With Lupus NYT
47:41 - The Friendly Caller Who’s Helping Seniors Feel Less Lonely WSJ
50:16 - UHS partners with Hippocratic AI to launch AI agents Healthcare Dive
50:42 - OpenAI wins $200 million U.S. defense contract CNBC
52:12 - OpenAI and Microsoft Tensions Are Reaching a Boiling Point WSJ
56:59 - Microsoft prepar