StartUp Health NOW Podcast

Transcarent CEO and 7wire Ventures co-founding Partner Glen Tullman joins StartUp Health co-founder Unity Stoakes for a candid conversation on what it takes to lead, invest, and build during one of healthcare’s most volatile and opportunity-rich moments. Tullman shares why time is the most strategic asset a founder has, why simplicity always wins, and why commitment — not an exit strategy — drives enduring impact. This 30-minute highlight captures only part of the full Fireside Chat with StartUp Health community members, who joined live to ask their own questions and engage directly with Tullman. Join the StartUp Health community to access these full, interactive conversations with today’s top healthcare leaders and investors. Do you want to participate in live conversations with industry luminaries? When you join the StartUp Health Network – a new private community for investors, buyers, and industry leaders to connect year-round with top health entrepreneurs – you are invited to a full calendar of interactive Fireside Chats with the most influential leaders shaping health innovation. Come with questions, learn what is working right now, and connect with industry icons. » Learn more and join today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.  

StartUp Health community member Katharine Barnard-Kelly, PhD, CEO & Co-founder of Spotlight-AQ, joins StartUp Health co-founder Unity Stoakes to share how her team is transforming diabetes care by giving providers a window into their patients’ real lives. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Barnard-Kelly explains how Spotlight-AQ’s AI-driven clinical tool helps providers deliver holistic, biopsychosocial care that improves outcomes for patients, reduces burnout for clinicians, and saves costs for health systems. In this episode: How Spotlight-AQ uses AI to match each patient’s real-world experience with optimal routine care The simple, three-minute questionnaire that helps providers focus on what matters most Why holistic care is critical for managing chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity Lessons from Dr. Barnard-Kelly’s journey from health psychology to health tech entrepreneurship How Spotlight-AQ achieved FDA qualification for a person-reported outcome measure in diabetes What’s next after earning second place in the 2025 Breakthrough T1D Israel Innovation Challenge Why being part of the StartUp Health community has been so valuable for connection and collaboration Tune in to hear how Dr. Katharine Barnard-Kelly is building a bridge between science and clinical practice – and making biopsychosocial care the new standard for precision medicine. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

Aubrey Sawyer, co-founder of InHealth and the CoachLinq spin-out, and Michelle Alencar, PhD, an innovative health entrepreneur, share insights from their decade-long journey in health coaching. They discuss how CoachLinq merges human connection with AI technology to enhance patient engagement. The duo reflects on lessons in perseverance and the importance of partnership in scaling evidence-based coaching. They also reveal their vision for tackling future challenges in healthcare engagement, emphasizing the need for trustworthy collaborations.

One-third of maternal deaths are linked to malnutrition or lack of nutrition care. StartUp Health community member Emily Sylvester, MS, RD, is determined to change that. As CEO & Founder of Mother of Fact, Emily is building a future where every pregnant person has access to continuous, reimbursable nutrition care – embedded into women’s health workflows and culturally tailored to each family’s needs. In this conversation with StartUp Health Co-founder Unity Stoakes, Emily shares:• Why maternal care must shift upstream• How Mother of Fact delivers a 2–3x ROI for clinics• New data showing major reductions in complications• Her founder journey after witnessing a preventable tragedy• The role of equity in the future of maternal health Listen to learn how wildly different nutrition care can improve outcomes for moms – and help health systems thrive. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

This week on the StartUp Health NOW podcast, we sit down with Sam Scott, PhD, CEO & Co-founder of Enhance-d, a Switzerland-based company transforming how people with diabetes approach exercise. Sam shares how his experience working with professional athletes living with Type 1 diabetes inspired a digital coaching platform that integrates CGM and wearable data to personalize workouts and improve glucose control. He also talks about the company’s new clinical pilots with Dexcom, its growing global community of users, and the next generation of AI-powered coaching tools. Listen in to learn how Enhance-d is helping people with diabetes turn movement into medicine – and why collaboration across sports tech, med tech, and clinical care will shape the future of active diabetes management. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

Discover how long-time StartUp Health community member Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is revolutionizing healthcare through groundbreaking anti-inflammatory solutions that could bridge the critical gap between lifespan and healthspan. In this StartUp Health NOW episode, co-founders Jim and Jackie Iversen share their journey in developing innovative medications targeting inflammation – the hidden culprit behind numerous age-related diseases and conditions The episode highlights their impressive progress, including: – Phase two clinical trials at Duke University – Positive outcomes in COVID patient studies – 60+ patents in their portfolio – Novel approach to alcohol-related inflammation – Promising collaboration with the National Institute of Drug Abuse Intriguingly, their research extends beyond traditional applications, showing potential in enhancing GLP-1 medications and addressing substance use disorders through neuroinflammation reduction. The team’s vision shifts healthcare from reactive “sick care” to proactive health solutions, promising more affordable and accessible medications for long-term use. Ready to explore the future of preventative healthcare? Tune in to hear how Sen-Jam’s innovations could transform the way we approach aging and chronic illness management. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.  

For the first time in decades, a major innovation in reproductive health is on the horizon. In this episode of StartUp Health NOW, StartUp Health community member Dr. Darlene Walley, CEO of NEXT Life Sciences, joins Unity Stoakes to discuss Plan A™, a long-acting, non-hormonal, fully reversible male contraceptive that could reshape how couples share family planning. Dr. Walley explains how Plan A works as a medical device, the company’s global license for Vasalgel®, and the breakthrough results from 100% successful delivery device trials across two continents. With FDA-approved development plans and growing clinical momentum, the company is on track to submit for approval by 2027. Beyond science, this conversation explores a cultural shift: how men are stepping up to share responsibility for contraception and how this innovation could expand access, improve preventive care, and strengthen relationships worldwide. Listen in for a look at the future of men’s health, reproductive equity, and one of the most anticipated breakthroughs in medical innovation. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

Discover how Suggestic is transforming healthcare by turning food into a powerful therapeutic tool. In this episode of StartUp Health NOW, Unity Stoakes sits down with new StartUp Health community members Shai Rosen and Carver Anderson to unpack their company’s innovative approach to personalized nutrition and wellness technology. From their unique journeys – Carver’s roots in medical equipment and Shai’s transition from aspiring doctor to tech innovator – the duo shares how they’re bridging the gap between food and medicine through AI-powered solutions. Their pivot to a B2B model reveals a shrewd understanding of how to scale impact in healthcare technology. Key highlights: Evolution from direct-to-consumer to B2B platform Integration of AI in personalized nutrition Shift from ‘sick care’ to preventative health Building scalable solutions for healthcare organizations Ready to explore the future of personalized nutrition and how technology is making it more accessible than ever? Tune in to this episode for insights into how Suggestic is revolutionizing the way we think about food and health. Are you ready to tell YOUR story? Members of our Health Moonshot Communities are leading startups with breakthrough technology-driven solutions for the world’s biggest health challenges. Exposure in StartUp Health Media to our global audience of investors and partners – including our podcast, newsletters, magazine, and YouTube channel – is a benefit of our Health Moonshot PRO Membership. To schedule a call and see if you qualify to join and increase brand awareness through our multi-media storytelling efforts, submit our three-minute application. If you’re mission-driven, collaborative, and ready to contribute as much as you gain, you might be the perfect fit. » Learn more and apply today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.

Avanlee Christine, CEO and co-founder of Avanlee Care, dives into transforming senior care by integrating family caregivers into health workflows. She reveals how pivoting from fundraising to customer focus unlocked key partnerships with Medicare Advantage plans. Avanlee highlights the importance of caregiver communication, showing that 60% of members rely on informal help, and discusses strategies to boost health outcomes. Amidst sharing her experiences as a founder in Montana, she also reflects on balancing motherhood with entrepreneurial challenges.

In this special episode of StartUp Health NOW, recorded in front of a live virtual audience of StartUp Health community members, Unity Stoakes sits down with Vishal Vasishth, Co-founder & Managing Director of Obvious Ventures. Listeners get to hear not only Vishal’s insights on purpose-driven investing but also questions from community members who joined the conversation in real time. Vishal shares how Obvious Ventures backs founders building companies that align human, planetary, and economic health. From pioneering startups reversing Type 2 diabetes to biotech companies harnessing AI to decode biology, he explains why the most valuable businesses of tomorrow will be those solving humanity’s biggest challenges. This conversation goes beyond capital, digging into the role of optimism, authenticity, and creativity in fueling sustainable innovation. If you want to understand how values-based investing is reshaping healthcare and the economy, this is a must-listen. Tune in to learn: How Obvious Ventures integrates purpose into early-stage investing Why healthcare innovation is central to systemic change How AI and generative science are accelerating new solutions The future of outcomes-based models and sustainable growth Whether you’re an investor, founder, or changemaker working to improve health, you’ll come away with fresh insights on building with purpose. And if you join the StartUp Health community, you can attend Fireside Chats like this one in real time and ask your own questions directly.   Do you want to participate in live conversations with industry luminaries? When you join the StartUp Health Network – a new private community for investors, buyers, and industry leaders to connect year-round with top health entrepreneurs – you are invited to a full calendar of interactive Fireside Chats with the most influential leaders shaping health innovation. Come with questions, learn what is working right now, and connect with industry icons. » Learn more and join today. Want more content like this? Sign up for StartUp Health Insider™ to get funding insights, news, and special updates delivered to your inbox.