StartUp Health NOW Podcast

In this special year-end episode, StartUp Health Co-founder Unity Stoakes has an intimate chat with Esther Dyson –  investor, thinker, and StartUp Health Impact Board member – about her upcoming book on term limits, the dangers of abundance, and how to protect our humanity in a world of superintelligent tools. Esther draws on decades in tech, health, and philanthropy to ask uncomfortable questions about power, valuation, and why “too much” rarely serves us. Along the way, she shares stories from Wellville, her unconventional life adventures, and the teachers and caregivers who shaped her more than any Nobel Prize winner. In this wide ranging conversation, they dig into: Why human finitude and term limits can be a source of comfort, not fear How ultra-processed food, content, and money distort our “fitness functions” What the current AI bubble reveals about power, inequality, and attention Why AI should augment doctors, and why nurses and caregivers are irreplaceable How to think about education, theory of mind, and “theory of business mind” Esther’s practical career advice: always make new mistakes, and never do work you would not do for free This is a must listen for founders, investors, and curious humans who want to navigate the age of superintelligence with more wisdom, more agency, and a clearer sense of “enough.” Join us at Apollo House at JPM Healthcare Week in January to continue the conversation. 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.

Caregiving touches every family, yet caregivers often remain unseen. In this conversation from HLTH in Las Vegas, StartUp Health co-founder Unity Stoakes sits down with Richard Lui, award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and Chief Impact Officer for StartUp Health’s Caregiving Moonshot. Richard shares the personal story that sparked his mission to transform the global care economy and explains why caregiving is one of the largest and most meaningful opportunities in health. Together, they explore how innovators, investors, and leaders can build solutions that support the people holding our health system together. In this episode • Why caregiving must become a core pillar of every product and service in health• What Richard learned caring for his father with Alzheimer’s• How storytelling and culture change are fueling new momentum• Where founders can find opportunity in the rapidly growing care economy• Why community and staying power are essential for caregiving innovators Join the Caregiving Moonshot If you are building solutions that support caregivers or strengthen the care economy, learn how to join our global community of Health Transformers. Meet in Person Join us at Apollo House at JPM Healthcare Week in January. 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.

Mitul Desai, co-founder of The Care Hack and former healthcare policy professional, shares his journey from corporate life to supporting family caregivers. He discusses the profound impact of his brother's schizophrenia diagnosis on his family and the lack of support they faced. Mitul reveals how The Care Hack aims to empower caregivers, transforming them into vital contributors in the healthcare system. With a unique approach, they merge technology and empathy to enhance caregiver experiences, while also collaborating with healthcare providers and employers.

Aarabi Balasubramanian, Founder and CEO of EmTech Care Labs, shares her journey of creating Care-Wallet, a virtual care management platform for families navigating dementia. She recounts her mother's diagnostic struggles and highlights the fragmentation in dementia care across systems. Aarabi emphasizes the combination of technology and human support in Care-Wallet, aimed at simplifying care management. Her insights on rural access challenges and the importance of founder communities provide valuable lessons for those in the caregiving and healthcare space.

Nandan Rao, Founder and CEO of Starlight, is on a mission to revolutionize follow-up chronic care. He shares how his personal experience with his father's illness sparked the idea for Starlight. Rao discusses the gaps in current healthcare and how behavioral coaching combined with tech can vastly improve patient outcomes. He highlights the integration of AI to enhance the human element in care while tackling the challenges of scaling remote health services. Rao also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between health systems and tech to support patient care.

Andrew Lu, CEO and co-founder of Cognimark, delves into how AI is transforming dementia care through a personal lens, driven by his grandmother's late Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He discusses integrating AI into clinician workflows to enhance early detection and streamline care coordination. Their innovative technology, rooted in research from Boston University and MIT, aims to ensure proactive brain health during primary care visits. Lu also highlights the importance of collaboration within the StartUp Health community to tackle Alzheimer’s care challenges.

StartUp Health community member Victor Penev, CEO & Founder of Edamam, joins Unity Stoakes to talk about how AI is accelerating the Food as Medicine revolution. Penev shares how Edamam’s mission to organize the world’s food knowledge is leading to a new generation of personalized nutrition tools, including a virtual nutritionist designed to help billions eat better and live longer. Listen for insights on AI innovation, new reimbursement models for nutrition, and why optimism – grounded in data – drives Edamam’s next chapter. 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.

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.