Episode 43 - Bill Georges, Healthcare Investor at AlleyCorp

Welcome back to the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast for episode 43.

In today’s sit-down, Norm Volsky interviews Bill Georges, a partner on AlleyCorp's healthcare team. Bill shares his career journey in healthcare and his role at AlleyCorp. He discusses the mission of AlleyCorp and its impact on the healthcare landscape. Bill also talks about his experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Jersey and how it has shaped his perspective as an investor. He shares insights into strategic discussions that shape healthcare organizations and highlights the importance of being nimble and having founder-market fit. Bill also mentions some of the successful investments made by AlleyCorp. In this conversation, Bill Georges discusses two companies that AlleyCorp has incubated: Pearl Health and Lilac. He emphasizes the need for a supportive ecosystem to build successful value-based care companies and highlights the resistance to change in the payer ecosystem. Bill also shares the importance of followership and the traits he looks for in founders. He mentions that AlleyCorp sources deals through its network and emphasizes the need for founders to be ready to address the hot buttons of early-stage venture capitalists. Bill also talks about reducing stress through cycling and racing cars.

Takeaways

👨‍💼 Bill Georges leads investments and incubations related to the payer ecosystem at AlleyCorp.

  🏢 AlleyCorp is an operating company that focuses on early-stage investing and company building.

🏥 Bill's experience at Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Jersey has informed his role as an investor.

🔄 Strategic discussions in healthcare organizations require nimbleness and the ability to fail fast.

🎯 Founder-market fit is an important factor in successful investments.

🚀 AlleyCorp has incubated companies like Pearl Health and Lilac, focusing on building a supportive ecosystem for successful value-based care companies.

🛑 The payer ecosystem faces resistance to change, hindering the adoption of value-based care.

👥 Followership is an important trait in founders, as they need to be able to attract talented individuals to join their startup despite the risks and sacrifices involved.

🔍 AlleyCorp sources deals through its network and looks for founders who are ready to address the hot buttons of early-stage venture capitalists.

🚴‍♂️ Reducing stress can be achieved through activities like cycling and racing cars.

  Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Career Journey

03:05 Alley Corp: Early-Stage Investing and Company Building

06:19 Strategic Discussions and Founder Stories

09:02 The Importance of Being Nimble and Failing Fast

25:07 Exciting Investments in Alley Corp's Portfolio

25:36 Challenges and Opportunities in the Healthcare Industry

26:42 The Importance of Value-Based Care and Innovation

32:08 The Resistance to Change in the Payer Ecosystem

35:08 What AlleyCorp Looks for in Founders

39:51 Deal Sourcing and Supporting Portfolio Companies

42:27 The Significance of Pattern Recognition in Venture Capital

44:25 Advice for Founders Raising Funds

46:22 Strategies for Reducing Stress and Staying Active

48:08 Outro

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