DigitalHealth InvestorTalk Show

There's been massive innovation and entry into the Employer HealthTech sector and now consolidation is playing out. The endgame is near.The right combination of health benefits provided by employers can attract and retain talent, build company identity and morale, promote better health and productivity among employees, and bend the medical cost trend downward over time. So for over 20 years employers have been picking and providing innovative mixes of healthcare and programmatic health benefits to employees to earn these advantages. And the market has responded with massive entry of new products, talent, companies, and investment capital.Now we're seeing emergent winners and losers, changing buyer preferences, maturity of the sector, aggregation of services, and the uptick of consolidation in the industry.In this show we'll cover:- The story of the employer healthtech thus far- Market maturation, changing buyer preferences- The uptick in consolidaiton and what's nextAnd we'll answer your questions.Chris Michalak is the Executive Chairman and former CEO of Personify Health, the leading provider of navigation, wellness, and care management solutions to employers, and he is the former CEO of Buck Consultants.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

The amount of healthcare data keeps growing. The tools we have keep improving, including new GenAI tools.But to truly drive better healthcare outcomes, we need to improve the agency of both patients in healthcare systems and of consumers at home.In this show we'll cover:- The new landscape of data and tools in healthcare- Extracting meaningful insight for care delivery- Using GenAI and digital tools to drive behavior change and improved healthAnd we'll answer your questions.David Shaywitz, MD, PhD, is Chief Medical Scientist at Lore Health.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

We look at what to expect from the ViVE Conference in Los Angeles in February, including innovations and investor sentimentsAdam and I offer a preview of the state of digital-health fundraising, enterprise budgets, and innovation that we'll see at the ViVE conference covering payers and providers.Will the barbell fundraising environment continue? What will be the favored investment themes? Are rollups picking up steam? When will the great shakeout arrive? What will happen to the Zombiecorns?In this show we'll cover:What to do now to prepare for the ViVE Conference in FebruaryHow to get the most out of your time and out of meetingsViews on the future of the fundraising, consolidation, and IPO environments for digital health in 2026And we'll answer your questions.Adam Kaufman is the publisher of BearingOn.Health, an advisor to health systems, pharma companies, and innovative digital health companies, and an adjunct professor of economics at USC. Follow him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adkaufman/.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.Follow on Eventbrite to hear about new events and live shows: StevenWardell.EventBrite.com.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple Podcasts (new show link): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digitalhealth-investortalk-show/id1739850633Spotify (new show link): https://open.spotify.com/show/42dV5Wnag97l2rtIDpxmlJ

What's next for funded companies with growth issues?After the euphoria of the Zero Interest Rate Period (ZIRP) when many companies received significant funding at high valuations, reality has set in for many of those companies. Slower than expected growth, missed milestones, and a more selective funding environment are forcing tough choices on the management teams of these companies.In this show we'll cover:The changing opportunities and challenges for digital health companiesThe investors' perspectivesThe range of strategic alternatives available to companiesAnd we'll answer your questions.Ron Razmi, MD, is the Managing Director of Zoi, a health AI advisory and investment firm, and the author of AI Doctor: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare. A cardiologist by training, he was previously a McKinsey consultant and CEO of health technology company. He currently writes a column for Fast Company and the The AI Doctor Blog on substack, and comments regularly on CNBC, Fox Business, and other media outlets on the health economy.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.Follow on Eventbrite to hear about new events and live shows: StevenWardell.EventBrite.com.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple Podcasts (new show link): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digitalhealth-investortalk-show/id1739850633Spotify (new show link): https://open.spotify.com/show/42dV5Wnag97l2rtIDpxmlJ

Building on advances in technology, MedTech is increasingly able to solve health problems and give us more changes for a long life. From spotting health emergencies earlier to replacing failing organs, the investment potential for the sector is growing.In this show we'll cover:- New technologies enabling medtech- Surprising new capabilities in heatlhcare- The ways that medtech will solve agingAnd we'll answer your questions.Lana Caron Lana Caron is a medtech and digital health veteran on a mission to make aging optional and longevity mandatory. As a General Partner at Solas BioVentures, she invests in medtech and biopharma innovations poised to transform how long and how well we live. Previously, she led digital health and AI investments at Philips Ventures and held leadership roles at medtech companies innovating to improve our lives.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.Follow on Eventbrite to hear about new events and live shows: StevenWardell.EventBrite.com.Subscribe to the podcast!Apple Podcasts (new show link): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digitalhealth-investortalk-show/id1739850633Spotify (new show link): https://open.spotify.com/show/42dV5Wnag97l2rtIDpxmlJ

The JP Morgan Healthcare Investor Conference in San Francisco each January sets the fundraising tone for the year - we preview happenings!As we head into the new year and the great gathering of healthcare investors in San Francisco in January at and around the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, Adam and I offer a preview of the state of digital health fundraising. Will the barbell fundraising environment continue? What will be the favored investment themes? Are rollups picking up steam? When will the great shakeout arrive? What will happen to the Zombiecorns?In this show we'll cover:What to do now to prepare for the JPM Conference in JanuaryHow to get the most out of your time and out of meetingsViews on the future of the fundraising, consolidation, and IPO environments for digital health for 2026And we'll answer your questions.Adam Kaufman is the publisher of BearingOn.Health, an advisor to health systems, pharma companies, and innovative digital health companies, and an adjunct professor of economics at USC. Follow him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adkaufman/.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

Pharmacy was based on pills, and PBMs were based on margins. GenAI challenges both.The practice and business of pharmacy is one of the most, if not the most, data intense medical professions and therefore is more susceptible to disruptive AI than any other healthcare profession.In this show we'll cover:How AI is freeing pharmacy operation teams from the tyranny of the screens.There are dozens of early-stage companies powered by AI tools that are working to automate or optimize every step in the process of filling a prescription and determining the appropriate insurance coverage.Over $1 billion dollars in capital has been invested in this space over the past three years.Drug companies are launching Direct to Consumer websites for their patented medicines. How do these work and will they provide better access for patients?Will Most Favored Nations pricing have an effect on drug pricesAnd we'll answer your questions.Harry Travis is the President of The Travis Group. He provides strategic consulting and executive coaching services to both US-based and international clients in the pharmacy, digital medicine, and medical technology markets. He is also the founder of TheRxRoundtable.com, which is a network of expert advisors to the pharmacy and pharmacy technology space. Prior to founding The Travis Group, he was Senior Vice President, Member Services Operations at CVS Caremark. Harry also held senior leadership positions with Baxter Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Accredo/Medco, and Aetna, where he served as the VP of Aetna’s Specialty and Home-Delivery Pharmacy business.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

What's the line for being classified as a medical device? Is it worth it today to be a medical device? What is going on in medtech?What's the line for being classified as a Medical Device? Is it worth it today to be a medical device? What is going on in medtech? The promise of Medical Devices used to be that it wasn't that hard to provide great clinical value for an unmet medical need with a new device and with an straightforward FDA process you could have a high-growth, high-margin product. But what is the real opportunity today?In this show we'll cover:What are the challenges facing Medical Devices today?What are the tradeoffs to avoiding or choosing the medical device pathway?What is the real cost difference?How does AI come into play?And we'll answer your questions.Joe Schwendt is the Founder and CEO of Runway Hero, a boutique consultancy that helps MedTech and Pharma teams build modern medical device software fast, compliant, and inspection-ready. With three decades in regulated digital products, he turns concepts into validated releases with clean documentation, disciplined engineering, and clear business outcomes.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

From Crisis to Catalyst - the Silver Tsunami poses a resource crisis for society. But can tech help us meet the challenge?The Silver Tsunami will strain the healthcare system and be taxing for workers. But could new tech help seniors remain active and productive while reducing the strain on the system?In this show we'll cover:- How to think about approaching seniors as a market with new solutions- New enabling technologies- Novel ways that tech keeps seniors active- Ways tech can cut retirement costsAnd we'll answer your questions.Meredith Oppenheim is an expert on aging and the founder of the Vitality Society. You can follow her on LinkedIn. With over three decades serving seniors and asset managing multi-billion-dollar senior housing portfolios for leading owners and operators, Meredith Oppenheim is a nationally recognized thought leader whose work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and ABC News. She is a frequent guest speaker for universities, hospitals, and companies, helping to shape the future of aging with vitality.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.

Longevity care is making advances and growing more popular among consumers. What is a framework to start extending your healthspan?Longevity isn’t just about adding years to life, it’s about adding life to those years. What steps can you take today to extend your healthspan and enhance your quality of life? What framework can help you identify major risks and set yourself up for long-term vitality?In this show we'll cover:- A practical framework for extending your healthspan- The major health risks and how to prevent problems starting early- The latest advances in longevity scienceAnd we'll answer your questions.Dr. Soheil Saadat is the founder and CEO of GenieMD, a San Francisco Bay Area–based telemedicine and digital health company that has treated millions of patients worldwide. GenieMD focuses on virtual care that promotes vitality and longevity, AI-driven chronic disease management, and advanced healthcare communication technologies. Elora Health, a part of GenieMD, is dedicated to longevity, prevention, and healthspan optimization.Steven Wardell is the Managing Partner of Wardell Advisors, a consulting firm focused on growth, fundraising, and strategic alternatives for digital health companies. He is the host of DigitalHealth InvestorTalk and the author of The Future of Digital Health. Follow for digital health insights at X.com/StevenWardell.