Most AI companies claim they're revolutionizing drug discovery. Very few have actually put a molecule they designed into a human being and watched it work.Tom Miller, co-founder and CEO of Iambic, did exactly that. Starting with no drug development track record and a contrarian bet that AI-native biotechs should build the drugs themselves rather than sell tools to pharma, Tom built a huge clinical-stage company that got a cancer drug from concept to patient responses in just 3.5 years — three times faster than the industry average.If you're a founder building in deep tech, biotech, or any space where the science is hard and the timeline is long, this episode will completely reframe how you think about betting on yourself before you have the credentials to do it.We break down how Tom went from Caltech professor to biotech CEO with no traditional pharma background, why he rejected the easy partnership model that every other AI drug company was chasing, what it actually felt like the moment their AI-designed molecule showed real responses in cancer patients, the real bottlenecks in AI drug discovery that have nothing to do with the model or the compute, and why his single biggest piece of advice for founders is to never look for the cheap win.Timestamps00:00 The Evolution of AI in Drug Discovery02:45 Iambic's Unique Approach to AI Tools05:16 Contrarian Bets in Biotech Startups09:20 Scaling Laws in Biology and AI09:20 The Future of AI in Drug Development09:20 Scaling Laws in AI and Drug Discovery10:53 Bridging Benchmarks and Real-World Applications13:11 The Journey from Discovery to Clinical Trials16:25 The Role of AI in Accelerating Drug Development18:20 Navigating Target Selection and Validation20:44 The Impact of AI on Workforce Dynamics23:39 Partnerships and Collaborations in Biotech26:07 Building a Technology-Driven Biotech Company28:47 Storytelling and Investor Relations in Biotech31:34 Common Pitfalls for Biotech Founders34:13 The Future of AI in Drug DiscoveryFollow Sathvik on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169Follow Vaelion Ventures on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaelionventures/?viewAsMember=trueFollow Care Shift on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-shift/?viewAsMember=trueVaelion Ventures Website: https://www.vaelion.vc/Tom Miller's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/thomas-miller-322a8521/?skipRedirect=trueIambic's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iambic-ai/posts/?feedView=allIambic's Website: https://www.iambic.ai/

Most healthcare startups miss their chance by undervaluing brand-building early on. Kevin Knight reveals how crafting a bold, human-centered brand can transform perception, trust, and growth—especially in one of the most regulated, complex industries.

If you’re a founder or operator in healthcare or any deeply regulated space, ignoring the power of your brand can leave you invisible in a crowded market. Kevin shares the behind-the-scenes strategies that turn basics into trust, from visual identity to messaging that cuts through complexity and regulation. Discover how Sidecar’s bold approach to transparency, human connection, and customer experience is setting a new standard for insurance—and why similar principles can unlock your growth.

We break down:

How Kevin’s experience at Facebook and Pinterest shaped his approach to healthcare marketing

The critical difference between good enough and perfect branding at different growth stages

Why founder personality is your most powerful brand asset—if you understand how to harness it

The role of transparency and human-centric communication in unseating legacy competitors

How regulations influence, but do not restrict, compelling brand storytelling

Timestamps

00:00 From Tech to Healthcare: A Journey of Purpose

01:12 The Puzzle of Healthcare: Challenges and Opportunities

03:54 Innovating Health Insurance: The Sidecar Approach

06:18 Building a Brand: The Role of Founders

08:27 Navigating Distribution: Insights for Startups

11:10 AI in Marketing: Standing Out in a Crowded Space

13:38 Healthcare Marketing: Breaking the Mold

16:11 Branding in a Regulated Environment: The Sidecar Strategy

18:39 The Future of Health Insurance: A New Paradigm

33:12 Branding Mistakes to Avoid

36:41 The Importance of Partnerships in Marketing

41:55 Price Transparency in Healthcare

46:15 The Role of AI in Marketing

50:12 Human Connection in the Age of AI

52:19 Hiring for Marketing: CMO vs. Generalist

54:24 The Future of Health Insurance Models

57:26 Rapid Fire Insights on Marketing

Follow Sathvik on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169

Follow Vaelion Ventures on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vael...

Follow Care Shift on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care...

Care Shift Website: https://careshift.vc/

Vaelion Ventures Website: https://www.vaelion.vc/

Kevin Knight's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevinjknight/?skipRedirect=true

Sidecar Health Website: https://www.sidecarhealth.com/

Unlocking Healthcare Innovation: Insights from Sam Toole, Partner at Primary Venture PartnersIn this episode, we explore the journey of Sam Toole—from college surf schools to leading healthcare investments at Primary Venture Partners. Sam shares his operator experience, the nuances of healthcare sales cycles, and how his background shapes his approach to investing in groundbreaking healthtech startups.Timestamps00:00 Entrepreneurial Beginnings: Surf School and E-commerce02:52 Lessons from Nomad Health: Sales and Market Dynamics05:34 Transitioning to Venture Capital: Insights from Operating Experience08:23 Evaluating Founders: The Importance of Market Understanding10:49 ROI in Healthcare: Navigating Metrics and Value Propositions13:49 Building Relationships: The Role of Champions in Sales16:21 Identifying End Users: Understanding Stakeholder Dynamics19:05 Exceptional Founders: Characteristics and Market Fit22:05 Primary's Unique Approach: Supporting Founders in Early Stages24:37 Healthcare Thesis: Evolving Perspectives and Lessons Learned27:15 Navigating Regulatory Challenges: Time as an Enemy30:54 Understanding Primary's Investment Funds34:31 Identifying Winning Founders and Market Opportunities36:02 Future of Healthcare: Clinical Innovations37:35 Regulatory Challenges in Healthcare Startups40:09 The Role of Pilots in Healthcare Ventures41:40 Navigating Payer Relationships in Healthcare46:05 The Future of Primary's Healthcare Portfolio49:32 Non-Obvious Moves for Healthcare Founders50:40 Rapid Fire Insights with SamFollow Sathvik on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169Follow Vaelion Ventures on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vaelionventures/?viewAsMember=trueFollow Care Shift on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-shift/?viewAsMember=trueFollow Sam Toole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samtoole/?skipRedirect=trueFollow Primary Venture Partners on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primary-venture-partners/Care Shift Website: https://careshift.vc/Vaelion Ventures Website: https://www.vaelion.vc/Primary Venture Partners Website: https://www.primary.vc/

This episode dives into how venture studios are transforming healthcare innovation, with John Beadle sharing how Aegis Ventures leverages partnerships, industry relationships, and a flexible playbook to create impactful health tech companies. Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, or healthcare leader, discover the strategies shaping the next wave of healthcare solutions.In this episode:The rationale behind founding a healthcare-focused venture studio versus traditional venture capital How Aegis built a strong partnership with Northwell Health and expanded with multiple systems The process of identifying and co-developing startups from scratch and the importance of trust The role of industry relationships and reputation in recruiting top-tier talent Differentiating between features, tools, and full company opportunities in health tech The significance of regulatory moats and data-driven branding as competitive advantages How health systems can evaluate startups for ROI and meaningful impact The potential for AI to address clinical challenges beyond administrative costs Building portfolio companies to coexist with giants like Epic and mitigate competitive risks Future trends in healthcare IPOs, private companies, and the evolving market landscape Timestamps:00:07 - Why venture studios are a game-changer in healthcare innovation02:40 - The evolution of Northwell partnership to a broad health system network04:13 - How Aegis co-develops startups from zero with health system insights15:53 - Recruiting top health tech talent using the Aegis brand and networks17:21 - Features versus full-scale companies in health tech problem sets19:46 - The importance of regulatory pathways and biomarkers in healthcare startups23:33 - How health systems and startups can collaborate for proven ROI44:14 - The increasing impact of AI in clinical decision-making and workflow53:06 - Coexisting with Epic and large incumbents in healthcare tech55:31 - Trends in public listings and private acquisitions for digital health firms56:44 - Rapid fire: Markets with high potential and underestimated moats57:22 - Changing perceptions: The critical role of trust in scaling healthcare solutions57:41 - Advice ignored: Launching Aegis despite the challengesMore on SathvikLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169Care Shift: https://careshift.vc/Vaelion Ventures: https://www.vaelion.vc/More on John & Aegis VenturesJohn's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnpbeadle/Aegis Ventures Website: https://aegisventures.com/Aegis Ventures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegisventures/posts/?feedView=allAegis's approach exemplifies how carefully curated partnerships, industry trust, and a robust portfolio playbook allow healthcare venture studios to scale impactful innovations faster and more efficiently. As AI matures, the emphasis on regulatory moats and proven outcomes will be essential for startups aiming to differentiate in a crowded market.

Learn about the integration of AI in creating real-time, custom health plans and how Angle Health is revolutionizing patient care. Explore the challenges and opportunities in healthcare data, the role of AI in enhancing medical insights, and the importance of strategic partnerships in driving innovation.

Main Insights:

AI's Transformative Power: AI is revolutionizing healthcare by improving data integration and patient care.Investment in Innovation: Angle Health leverages high-quality data to drive breakthroughs in medical research.

Strategic Integration: Successful AI integration requires collaboration with healthcare providers and embedding technology into existing workflows.

Global Perspectives: The interconnected nature of global healthcare offers valuable lessons in innovation and data sharing.

Challenges and Opportunities: Navigating data privacy, regulatory, and societal acceptance issues remains crucial for AI's

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Angle Health and Market Positioning

03:35 Competitive Advantages of Angle Health

05:51 Innovative Quoting and Implementation Process

08:43 Sales Cycle and Broker Relationships

11:12 Building a Full Stack Health Plan

13:43 Adopting AI and Modern Technology

16:24 Personal Motivations Behind Angle Health

18:59 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19

21:22 Employee Trust and Company Culture

23:52 Management Style and Team Dynamics

26:04 Differentiation in the Health Plan Market

28:43 Unit Economics and Scaling Challenges

31:41 Operational Efficiency and Unit Economics

33:47 Building a Regulated Company

35:27 Sales Strategies for Health Plans

37:28 Broker Relationships and Value Proposition

39:29 AI Integration in Healthcare

41:38 Medicare's Influence on Commercial Plans

43:55 Cost Pressures and Market Opportunities

46:59 Member Experience and Advocacy

49:32 Future Vision for Angle Health

51:39 Go-to-Market Strategy Evolution

More on Sathvik

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169

Care Shift: https://careshift.vc/

Vaelion Ventures: https://www.vaelion.vc/

More on Ty and Angle Health

Ty's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyw/

Angle Health Website: https://www.anglehealth.com/

Angle Health LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anglehealth/

Discover how AI is reshaping healthcare with Ardy Arianpour, founder and CEO of SEQSTER. Learn about the integration of AI in patient-centric interoperability, transforming fragmented health records into a unified platform. Explore the challenges and opportunities in healthcare data, the role of AI in enhancing medical insights, and the importance of strategic partnerships in driving innovation.

Main Insights:

AI's Transformative Power: AI is revolutionizing healthcare by improving data integration and patient care.

Investment in Innovation: SEQSTER leverages high-quality data to drive breakthroughs in medical research.

Strategic Integration: Successful AI integration requires collaboration with healthcare providers and embedding technology into existing workflows

.Global Perspectives: The interconnected nature of global healthcare offers valuable lessons in innovation and data sharing.

Challenges and Opportunities: Navigating data privacy, regulatory, and societal acceptance issues remains crucial for AI's integration.

Timestamps

00:00 The Rise of Patient-Centric Interoperability

03:02 SEQSTER's Role in Healthcare Data

05:30 Navigating B2B Challenges in Healthcare

08:28 The Impact of AI on Healthcare Solutions

11:05 Surviving and Thriving in the Startup World

13:51 The Future of B2C in Healthcare

16:27 Understanding Metrics and Growth

19:14 The Ongoing Challenge of Data Fragmentation

21:54 Building Trust and Delivering Value

24:16 The Evolution of Seekster's Business Model

31:58 Interoperability Challenges in Healthcare

34:45 Navigating the Healthcare Startup Landscape

36:46 Data Harmonization and AI Integration

42:06 Compliance and Regulatory Considerations

47:23 Transforming Clinical Trials with AI

50:05 Advice for Founders in Data Interoperability

53:40 The Future of Healthcare and Personal Motivation

More on Sathvik

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169

Care Shift: https://careshift.vc/

Vaelion Ventures: https://www.vaelion.vc/

More on Ardy & SEQSTER

Ardy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardyarianpour/

SEQSTER LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seqster/

SEQSTER Website: https://seqster.com/

Most startups kill their growth by not understanding what really convinces payers, but our guest, Mike Roaldi, has cracked the code. After a decade at UnitedHealth, where he mastered the art of winning enterprise deals, he’s now leading CityBlock’s revolutionary expansion into Medicaid and Medicare at a scale most founders only dream of. This episode reveals the insider secrets to building credibility, demonstrating impact, and sealing those critical partnerships, all rooted in Mike’s deep experience navigating complex health systems.You’ll discover how top health organizations evaluate startups: Why concrete, granular ROI metrics beat vague promises every time. Mike shares the counterintuitive truth about storytelling in pitches: We also dive into the mechanics of navigating multi-layered organizational decisions: Why patience, responsiveness, and organizational cohesion often seal the deal faster than a perfect slide deck. Plus, Mike reveals his approach to transparent performance data, why that builds trust faster, and how AI is embedded everywhere in CityBlock’s model—from risk profiling to direct member engagement.Why does understanding provider diversity and the social determinants of health matter more than ever? Mike’s firsthand stories shed light on designing connected, community-centric care that’s scalable without losing the local touch. And for founders wondering about the long game, he discusses key strategic choices, like hiring industry insiders versus technical geniuses, that can make or break your healthcare venture at scale.This episode is perfect for health entrepreneurs, product teams, and anyone eager to turn initial pilots into sustainable, insurable growth. More on SathvikLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sathvik-bilakanti-8b5344169X:x.com/sathvikbilCare Shift: https://careshift.vc/Vaelion Ventures: vaelion.vcMore on MikeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbroaldi/Cityblock Health Website: https://www.cityblock.com/