Pear Healthcare Playbook
Lessons from Chris Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder of Thatch, on Modernizing Health Benefits
17 snips
Jul 9, 2025 
Chris Ellis, CEO and Co-Founder of Thatch, brings his expertise in cancer research and clinical software to the forefront of modernizing health benefits. He shares his personal journey shaped by loss and the transition from research to entrepreneurship. The discussion unveils the complexities of launching consumer-centric healthcare solutions, the importance of collaboration in health tech, and strategies to navigate policy impacts. Ellis emphasizes resilience in entrepreneurship, sharing how setbacks can drive growth and innovation in a challenging industry.
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Formative Loss Shapes Mission
- Chris Ellis' father died of cancer when he was six, which planted a seed to fix healthcare flaws.
- Early exposure to healthcare challenges shaped his career path from research to entrepreneurship.
Real Struggles Inspire Product Pivot
- User interviews with cancer patients revealed that high healthcare costs and insurance denials were key challenges.
- Personal experience with insurance issues confirmed the need for consumer-centered healthcare solutions.
ICRA Enables Consumer-Centric Healthcare
- The Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICRA) empowers employers to give employees tax-free budgets to buy health plans.
- This fintech-powered model reorients incentives towards consumer choice in healthcare.