Episode 30- Matt Hermann, Healthcare Investor

Welcome back to the Digital Health Heavyweights hosted by Norm Volsky!In Episode 30, we are joined by Matt Herman, a seasoned executive in healthcare investing, who shares his insights and experiences. He discusses his inspiration for entering healthcare with a finance background and his role at Ascension Ventures. Matt highlights the success of the model and the factors that contribute to achieving outsized financial returns. He also talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare sector and how his team navigated the challenges during that time. Matt shares his advice for founders raising funds and discusses the future of venture firms in the healthcare space. He also shares his personal strategies for managing stress and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.Takeaways:💰 Combining a love for mission and business can be achieved through healthcare venture investing.🤝Building a community and fostering relationships with health systems can provide strategic value beyond capital investment.⤴ Early success is critical in building credibility and attracting investors.💫Differentiated models and shared services can set venture firms apart and provide additional value to portfolio companies.🏋️‍♂️Investing in founders with grit, resilience, and an openness to new ideas is key to success.Chapters:00:00Introduction and Background01:27Inspiration to Enter Healthcare05:04Success of the Model07:15Navigating the Diverse Landscape of Startups08:38Achieving Outsized Financial Returns09:50Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Sector11:26Onboarding LPs14:32Delivering Strategic Value to Health Systems15:59Notable Investments and Success Stories19:08Identifying Red Flags in Founders23:05Bullish on Emerging Trends and Technologies25:26Differentiating Venture Firms in the Healthcare Space28:38Adding Value Post-Investment32:17Advice for Founders Raising Funds35:30Venture Firms of the Future40:30Managing Stress and De-Stressing41:52Healthy Recipes and Eating HabitsFollow, connect and subscribe:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-health-heavyweights-podcastYoutube: https://youtube.com/@DigitalHealthHeavyweightsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalhealthheavyweights/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heavyweightspodcast