Healthy Returns

Show Notes:Young Futures (YF) was started with one goal in mind: to provide a social compass for young people and their families navigating the digital age.Backed by Melinda Gates’s Pivotal Ventures, the Susan Crown Exchange, and The Goodness Web, Katya Hancock and her team at YF support non-profits and grassroots organizations working to help teens thrive in our tech-driven world.Each year, YF will host funding challenges with various themes, supporting winners with capital and admission into a 6-month non-profit accelerator called Young Futures Academy. The inaugural grant challenge—called the Lonely Hearts Club—focused on organizations fostering meaningful social connections. In our conversation, Katya highlights some of the winners—including #HalfTheStory, Be Loud Studios, Civics Unplugged, and 3G—and describes each recipient’s unique approach toward promoting social connection.In this episode, we discuss digital tension, potential future funding challenge themes, and the current landscape of tech, social media, and youth wellbeing.Check out the full list of the Lonely Hearts Club grantees here.Timestamps:[1:33]: Startup Health, Health Moonshots, Storytelling[4:36]: Young Futures’ Mission[7:58]: Tech, Social Media, Youth Wellbeing[13:52]: Listening to young people, Digital Tension, Empathy[16:58]: Flagship Grant Recipients[26:26]: The Beginning of Young Futures[27:45]: Future Funding Challenges This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Healthcare is fragmented—for women, children, chronic condition patients, and for teens.In the U.S., there are approximately 70 million adolescents, yet only about 500 active professionals specialize in adolescent medicine. With so few specialists available, teens are often forced to piece together their own health, receiving fragmented care from school nurses, sports teams, pediatricians, and urgent care clinics.Paul Julius and his team at Thread Health have developed a digital clinic and co-pilot solution designed to bridge this massive gap in teen healthcare. Teens and parents can access Thread’s adolescent health-trained care team through SMS and in-app texting, empowering teens to take charge of their own health. The platform is currently operational in five states, focusing on partnerships with schools, health systems, and payers—notably targeting the Medicaid market, where 47% of the population are children, a third of whom are adolescents.In today’s episode, we discuss Thread Health’s go-to-market strategy, the biggest challenges in adolescent health, and how text-based communication encourages teens to advocate for their health.Timestamps:[1:13]: Teen Health Market[2:15]: Adolescent Medicine as a Specialty[4:49]: Fragmentation within Teen Healthcare[7:26}: Patient + Parent Journey Through Thread Health[9:59]: Measuring Engagement and Tracking Outcomes[12:28]: Challenges and Benefits of a Digitally Native Demographic[15:07]: Thread Health’s Inception[19:21]: GTM Strategy[21:16]: Systemic Issues Affecting Children’s Health This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:The connection between the gut and brain has been well-established in science. After all, 90% of serotonin, the “feel good” chemical, is produced in the gut.Recent findings, however, have also proven a link between the human microbiome and bone health, immune health, eye health, and even muscular health—making gut and gastrointestinal health extremely important for overall wellbeing.As healthcare and social media alike fuel the gut health movement, I’m excited to sit down with Jeff Glueck, Founder & CEO of Salvo Health.Salvo Health is a chronic metabolic and gastroenterology company targeting the over 60 million Americans with chronic gut and GI conditions, providing them with digital wraparound care. Salvo partners with physician practices, supporting patients via an app, specialized virtual care team, and a “whole-person” approach to gut care. Interventions include personalized diets, microbiome restoration, reducing toxic exposures, GI-directed psychology, and lifestyle coaching.In today’s episode, we talk about the need for digitization in healthcare, the microbiome in health and disease, and Salvo’s whole-person approach to treating chronic metabolic, gut, and GI conditions.Timestamps:[1:37]: Digitization in Healthcare[9:44]: Microbiome Health for Mental and Physical Wellbeing[15:49] Salvo Health’s Continuous, Whole-Person Care[23:22]: Expanding Partnerships and Offerings[32:43]: Salvo’s Recent Capital Raise[34:08]: Low Cost Interventions This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Prescribing medications is hard.Clinical guidelines are constantly changing, new drugs come onto the market every day, and today’s patients require personalized treatments.That’s why today’s guest, Athena Doshi, created Celeste. Celeste is an AI-enabled pharmacist co-pilot for clinicians, supporting personalized drug selection, dose optimization, and medication therapy management for patients. Athena graduated from UC San Diego only a few years ago during the pandemic, but this is already her second healthcare venture; she previously built and sold a public health SaaS company while still in school.Today’s episode is all about how Celeste came to be, marketing to healthcare enterprise customers, and how Athena is tackling the almost $2T prescription drug market.Timestamps:[1:46]: Celeste’s backstory[6:26]: Marketing to enterprise customers[11:10]: How Celeste works[16:13]: Personalized lifestyle prescriptions[18:04]: Market size and pitching investors[24:50]: Celeste’s roadmap[26:30]: Future challenges This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:What does health insurance have to do with the innovation? According to today’s guest,—Amanda Joseph—everything!Amanda is a Principal at American Family Ventures where she invests at the intersection of healthcare, insurance, and startups. She brings years of healthcare experience to her current role, having worked at insurance behemoth HCSC and value-based care startup Lumeris.Today’s episode covers value-based care, navigating the digital point solution landscape, and how companies like TCARE and Chamber Cardio are transforming the future of health insurance.Amanda also shares her thoughts on the blurry incentives of modern-day healthcare and why there is a huge push to move care outside of the four walls of a hospital.About American Family Ventures: AFV is an early-stage VC fund investing in high-potential startups innovating in the future of insurance.Timestamps:[1:11]: Life before American Family Ventures[7:54]: Health insurance explained[11:45]: Innovation in health insurance[18:02]: Consumer-centric healthcare[23:27]: Assessing health insurance startups[28:28]: Navigating the point solution market[31:43]: Portfolio companies leading the future of health insurance[34:05]: Challenges facing value-based careSubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Dan Gluck knows a thing or two about health and wellness. He’s a former Division I collegiate tennis player, co-founder of superfood CPG company Health Warrior, and frequent Iron Man and Spartan Race athlete.Bridging his experience in institutional investing and operating in the health and wellness space, Dan is currently the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital. GroundForce is a growth equity firm investing in food and beverage-related companies tackling the biggest challenges in human and planetary health.Since rebranding from PowerPlant Ventures last year, Dan and his team have expanded their investment thesis to consider sectors beyond plant-based foods such as ag-tech, supply chain, low-emission manufacturing and production, and decarbonization.Today’s episode covers the evolution of GroundForce Capital, emerging health and wellness trends, and the biggest challenges facing human and planetary health.About GroundForce Capital: GroundForce Capital is a growth equity firm investing in food and beverage-related companies tackling the biggest issues tied to human and planetary health.Timestamps:[1:30]: College tennis, endurance sports, Health Warrior[6:57]: From PowerPlant Ventures to GroundForce Capital[11:53]: Evolving thesis and rebranding[16:53]: Evaluating prospective companies[21:53]: Liquid Death investment[23:51]: Human and planetary health outcomes[26:19] Emerging health and wellness trends[32:30]: Bearish or Bullish?Resources:* Born to Run - Christopher McDougall* Start With Why - Simon Sinek* Rebranding to GroundForce Capital* Health WarriorSubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:At just seven months old, Phil Southerland was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes. At the time, this was the youngest recorded case of diabetes and his parents were told he’d be dead or blind by 2025.Fast forward to today: He is the Founder and CEO of Supersapiens—a continuous glucose monitoring platform built to optimize glucose regulation for performance. After seeing the power of constant glucose visibility in his own athletic pursuits, Phil transformed his personal challenges into a global solution.He’s spent the last few years pioneering glucose monitoring technology for athletes, along the way breaking misconceptions and stigma about glucose, diabetes, and performance through data. His latest venture—Supersapiens Diabetes— brings the Supersapiens platform to the diabetes population in the U.S.Today’s episode covers glucose as a proxy for health and performance, using sport as a platform for inspiration and change, and how the narrative around glucose monitoring has evolved.Timestamps:[1:25]: Supersapiens and continuous glucose monitoring[3:44]: How the narrative around glucose has evolved[11:09]: Sports as a platform for change[21:29]: Launching Supersapiens Diabetes in the US[31:14]: 10-year outlookResources: * Team Novo Nordisk (Team Type-1)* Republic (Crowd Funding Campaign)* Race Across America 2024* Association between pre-exercise food ingestion timing and reactive hypoglycemia: Insights from a large database of continuous glucose monitoring data (European Journal of Sport Science)Subscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:A decade ago, digital health was synonymous with telemedicine but today, digital health is so much more. Today’s guest, Dr. Ami Bhatt, has spearheaded this evolution, reshaping cardiovascular medicine through health innovation.Dr. Bhatt is the Chief Innovation Officer for the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Since launching her first virtual care program in 2013, she has been leading the creation of personalized virtual cardiovascular care delivery models for improving heart health. Dr. Bhatt also champions the idea of collaborative intelligence, reflecting a future where AI enables clinicians to be the best they can be.Today’s episode covers the evolution of digital health, applications for generative AI and machine learning in healthcare, consumer wearables and patient empowerment, and the last mile of digital healthcare delivery.We also discuss the recent partnership between Dispatch Health and Instacart to tackle food insecurity.Timestamps:[0:48]: What does a Chief Innovation Officer do anyway?[2:24]: Evolution of Digital Health and Telemedicine[6:39]: Expanding Scope of Digital Health in Cardiology[10:30]: At Home Care, Dispatch Health, Food-as-Medicine[15:40]: Generative AI, Machine Learning, Collaborative Intelligence[25:24]: Consumer Wearables and Patient Empowerment[30:39]: Last Mile of Digital Healthcare DeliveryResources:* Dispatch Health x Instacart* Food-is-Medicine @ Tufts University* Consumer Wearable Health and Fitness Technology in Cardiovascular Medicine (JACC)* The Rise of Collaborative Intelligence in Healthcare | Ami Bhatt | TEDxBoston* Collaborative Intelligence to catalyze the digital transformation of healthcare (Nature)* Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024Subscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:The market for health-centric consumer packaged goods (CPGs) is both vast and confusing. Some products claim wellness, yet lack basic clinical evidence. Other products are genuinely healthy but struggle to curate messaging that resonates with consumers.Today’s guest Daniel Faierman—GP of Vitality Ventures and Director of Finance at Forum Brands—reveals what he looks for when investing in CPGs.A collegiate tennis career at Yale first catapulted Daniel into health and wellness investing. He now operates and invests in three main categories: health tech, sports tech, and consumer health—spending most of his time searching for the next big CPG brand.In today’s episode, we talk about CPG 1.0 versus CPG 2.0, making wellness more accessible, and what Daniel looks for when investing in CPG brands. Plus, Daniel gives his take on plant-based meats, celebrity-led brands, and opportunities in human health outside of food and beverage.About Vitality Ventures: Vitality Ventures is an early-stage venture capital syndicate that invests Seed through Series B in the future of human health and performance.About Forum Brands: Forum Brands acquires and grows early-stage businesses at the intersection of consumer brands and wellness.Timestamps:[0:53]: Collegiate Tennis[5:56]: Why Daniel chose Consumer Health[7:43]: Subscribing to Wellness[8:53]: Investment Criteria for CPG Brands[12:52]: Backing the Science[14:48]: CPG’s Target Demographic[16:52]: Ozempic Changing Brand Messaging[17:32]: CPG 1.0 (better-for-you) vs. CPG 2.0 (good-for-you)[20:54]: Plant-Based Meats[22:55]: Impact of Celebrity Brands[26:59]: Making Wellness More Accessible[32:00]: Opportunities in Personalized Wellness + Recovery[35:01]: Opportunities in Aging[36:07]: Closing RemarksResources: * Subscribing to Wellness* Marc Andreessen on the future of consumer brands* Companies mentioned: Elo Health, Gruns, Edge Theory Labs, Bold, Meati, Actual Veggies This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Are preventive cancer screenings cost-effective? Why don’t certain providers treat poor patients? What’s the deal with whole-body MRIs? Does private equity make healthcare better or worse? Do not-for-profit hospitals make a profit?In today’s episode, Howard Forman, M.D., MBA—a healthcare economist and practicing clinician at Yale University—answers all these questions and more. He has multiple academic appointments including as Professor of Radiology, Public Health, Economics, and Management.U.S. Healthcare is a $4.5 trillion industry. According to Dr. Forman, as a physician if “you don’t realize you’re part of an enormous slice of the US economy, you’re failing your patients and you’re failing yourself.”When he’s not reading images in the emergency room, Dr. Forman teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Yale, training the next generation of clinician leaders.This episode covers everything from AI to health equity to private sector innovation, with Dr. Forman leveraging his extensive expertise to chart a future trajectory for more equitable healthcare.Timestamps:0:58: Dr. Forman’s Intro + Background4:01: Private Sector’s Role in Healthcare7:31: Balancing Profits and Patient Outcomes10:31: COVID-19 and Healthy Equity16:14: Inequities in Health Tech + Whole-Body MRIs20:54: Cost Effectiveness of Preventive Cancer Screenings23:04: AI in Radiology25:46: Importance of Healthcare Economics28:08: Magic Wand Question28:44: Contrarian Views in Healthcare30:25: Health & Veritas!Resources: * Health & Veritas* The Dose: Private Equity Promised to Revolutionize Health Care. Is It Making Things Worse? - Dr. Howard Forman* Will a Full-Body MRI Scan Help You or Hurt You? (The New Yorker)* Changes in Hospital Adverse Events and Patient Outcomes Associated With Private Equity Acquisition (JAMA Network)* CityBlock Health* Oak Street Health* Pozen-Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Health Equity Leadership at Yale UniversitySubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Thousands of venture firms invest in biotech and healthcare startups, but very few have an investment thesis around public health. Chronic underfunding by the government and the private sector has left populations suffering poor health outcomes largely determined by factors upstream of a doctor’s office.Today’s guest Gurdane Bhutani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MBX Capital invests in emerging companies creating sustainable solutions for improving population-level health. MBX catalyzes opportunities to address public health challenges such as chemical exposure, social isolation, and food insecurity.The firm’s commitment to making contrarian investments in public health innovation—an area traditionally neglected by the venture ecosystem—has proved lucrative. MBX’s first and second funds performed in the top 5% and 25% of benchmarks, respectively.Today’s episode covers taking a root cause approach toward human health, environmental factors fueling chronic disease, and how MBX has pioneered a framework for investing private capital to improve public health.Timestamps:1:14: Gurdane’s Background + Inspiration for MBX Capital3:44: Creating a framework for public health investing7:36: Being mindful of incentives11:37: How MBX assesses prospective portfolio companies13:35: Aligning ROI and social impact15:30: Pursuing public health challenges with a root cause approach18:09: Advocacy is step one19:03: MBX’s investment into Forum21:27: Environmental factors that drive metabolic dysfunction24:44: Social determinants of health26:59: Building a network of public health domain expertsResources Discussed:* HealthyNYC* UniteUs* ForumSubscribe to Healthy Returns and Share with a Friend Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Whether through wearables, health apps, or at-home testing kits, we have the potential to collect many unique data points about our bodies. Still, 1 in 5 women report feeling ignored by their doctors and their symptoms dismissed.Noelle Acosta, Co-founder and CEO of Noula, found herself to be that 1 in 5. After spending months reading research papers and ordering home testing kits, she finally convinced her physician to order an ultrasound which led to a delayed diagnosis of PCOS. Noelle created Noula to equip women with personal hormone data to help inform their healthcare journey.Noula user sign up through an app, complete an at-home hormonal test that assesses 9 key biomarkers, and receive personalized recommendations for their health—usually lifestyle and nutrition-based. Customers can then take their own data to providers to confirm the symptoms they may be feeling.Today’s episode covers Noula’s inception, AI-enabled personalized care, and Noelle’s vision for the future of women’s health.Timestamps:0:32: Noelle’s entrepreneurial roots4:17: Patients w/ hormone-related conditions feel lost8:44: Founding Noula16:24: User care journey20:20: Fundraising challenges28:00: Future outlook29:45: Product roadmap31:01: Target demographic32:37: Noula is raising a seed round!Subscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:“You don’t need healthcare unless you are sexually active”.That’s the message young women receive from women's healthcare once they age out of pediatrics. What has resulted is a patient population of over 21 million women overlooked and left to navigate a system primarily centered around preventing or managing pregnancy on their own.Today’s guest, Jennifer Newell built Betty's Co. to address this gap in care by creating an unmatched women's healthcare experience for Gen Z.Betty’s is a women’s health company providing gynecology, mental health, and wellness visits to young women. The Betty's care team meets patients where they are through mobile clinics and virtual appointments.Today’s episode covers misconceptions about women’s health, raising capital as a first-time founder, and how COVID-19 impacted the Betty’s go-to-market strategy.Timestamps:0:53: Introducing Jennifer and Betty’s Co.2:23: Gen Z’s expectations of healthcare4:42: Traditional healthcare failing young women7:31: Continuity of care9:56: Building a brand around quality clinical services11:22: San Antonio startup ecosystem15:35: Raising capital19:55: How COVID-19 changed the Betty’s GTM strategy23:25: Financial risk as a founder25:08: Convincing providers to join the Betty’s care team27:18: Gen Z as a target market31:05: Plans for opening brick-and-mortar locationsSubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:The media paints a polarizing picture of GLP-1 drugs, sometimes at the cost of obese patients who may actually benefit from medications. Today’s guest, Dr. Katherine Saunders, Co-Founder of Intellihealth, sets the record straight on all things pharmacology, lifestyle interventions, and insurance coverage.42% of Americans are obese, yet Dr. Saunders is one of less than 120 obesity fellowship-trained physicians in the U.S. She explains that obesity is not the lifestyle choice many providers believe it to be, but rather a complex chronic disease associated with over 200 weight-related health complications.Addressing this huge provider shortage and care gap, Dr. Saunders co-founded Intellihealth. Through Intellihealth’s software (Evolve) and clinical services (Flight), Dr. Saunders is scaling the specialized obesity care she delivers in her own clinical practice.Today’s episode covers GLP-1 drug coverage, Intellihealth’s tech-enabled care model, and why it’s usually not enough to treat obesity with diet and exercise alone.We also discuss what the media has gotten right and wrong about obesity drugs…Timestamps:1:12: Dr. Saunders’ training at Weill Cornell Medicine3:06: What is obesity medicine?6:04: Educating patients about GLP-1 drugs8:11 Obesity as a public health crisis10:49: How Intellihealth is using tech to scale access to obesity care12:28: Navigating GLP-1 insurance coverage16:15: Engaging multiple stakeholders to treat obesity17:22: Removing barriers to obesity care for underserved populations18:42: Efficacy of Intellihealth’s software20:14: Improving medical education curriculums21:32: GLP-1s in the media26:08: Proposing policy changes for the food industry29:32: Reducing StigmaSubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Healthcare is broken, and legacy incumbents have been notoriously slow to make changes. Seeing promising solutions in the startup ecosystem, today’s guest Jess Schram chose a career in venture capital to be closest to the companies at the cusp of healthcare innovation.Jess is currently the Director of Investments & Incubations at Remedy Product Studio, having previously worked at Swiftarc Ventures investing in consumer tech and wellness companies improving access, affordability, and quality of care.Finding a technical team is one of the greatest challenges healthcare founders face today. Remedy works directly with operating teams through equity-for-service deals—providing technical and product support. In doing so, Remedy takes a minority stake while building with a lead investor mindset.In today’s episode, Jess and I discuss digital health trends, healthcare consumerization, and our country’s maternal mortality crisis.Jess also assesses her health & wellness predictions from 2022 and makes new ones for 2024!About Remedy Product Studio: Remedy is a product partner and strategic investor working on the strategy, execution, and launch of digital products with Seed to Series C companies.About Swiftarc Ventures: Swiftarc is an early and growth-stage consumer and consumer health-focused venture capital firm.Timestamps:0:41: Jess’s path to venture3:28: Energizing healthcare through innovation5:19: Jess’s transition to Remedy Product Studio10:02: Remedy’s “sweat-equity” model14:31: Investing in digital health17:42: Revisiting Jess’s healthcare predictions from 2022: Prediction 120:27: Prediction 224:08: Accuracy of wearable data26:09: Prediction 328:19: Addressing barriers to care31:53: Funding women’s health startups35:29: Jess’s healthcare predictions for 2024Resources Discussed:* The Future of Health & Wellness* Updated Drug Enforcement Association (DEA) Telehealth RulingSubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Even as a primary care physician, Dr. Tara Bishop always knew she wanted to do something to improve healthcare beyond seeing patients. For her, that meant moving from her medical practice into the health innovation ecosystem, becoming Chief Clinical Officer at health insurance startup Surest, and most recently launching her own venture fund.With a background in engineering, Dr. Bishop sees huge potential in innovative technologies that drive value for payers, providers, and patients. She is now the Founder and Managing Partner of Black Opal Ventures, an investment firm focusing on early-stage health technology companies. Black Opal invests in tech within four areas: prevention and diagnosis, delivery of care, drug discovery and development, and data.Looking to fill care gaps, Dr. Bishop believes tech will continue to integrate into modern healthcare.Today’s episode covers traditional medicine versus consumer health, Black Opal Ventures’ investment thesis, and how startups are helping translate evidence into care.Timestamps:0:33: Dr. Bishop’s transition into the private sector5:03: Traditional medicine versus consumer health8:26: Coverage of lifestyle interventions12:30: Cohort studies15:13: Translating evidence to care18:27: Black Opal Venture’s investment thesis22:29: Intellihealth’s obesity care model29:27: Advice for aspiring physician-investors/entrepreneurs32:23: Future opportunities in health technologyResources Discussed:* Nurses’ Health Study* British Doctors Study* Harvard Happiness StudySubscribe to Healthy Returns Today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Millennials are accessing care very differently from previous generations. They want healthcare on their schedule that is destigmatized, holistic, and affordable. hims & hers is meeting that demand by providing comprehensive care for formerly stigmatized conditions like sexual health, mental health, hair loss, and dermatology.Younger demographics are also becoming more proactive about their health, seeking preventive services. Earlier this year, hims & hers announced the launch of new primary chronic disease management programs including cardiovascular health and weight loss.In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Patrick Carroll, Chief Medical Officer of hims & hers. We cover telemedicine, mental health, and hims & hers’ expansion into chronic disease care.Timestamps:0:34: Dr. Carroll’s training in primary care8:52: First stint with hims & hers11:55: Digital health demographic17:04: Holistic approach to weight management19:57: Partnership with LabCorp21:26: Being proactive about health23:34: Integrating traditional primary care with consumer health26:28: Continuity of care27:48: Upcoming hims & hers initiatives29:52: Acceptance of virtual healthcare This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Joshua Bonhotal doesn’t set goals, he makes declarations. His willingness to color outside the lines has shaped his unconventional career path, going from an intern at the Chicago Bulls to a founding member of Future to Head of Human Performance Investing at TXV.While building Future, Josh brought his expertise in cultivating a strong client-coach relationship to the user experience. His past as an elite coach and entrepreneur also informs his belief that healthcare companies must incorporate data and community to improve population health. TXV’s portfolio — which includes Oura, Levels, and Future — reflects this understanding.Today’s episode covers TXV’s investment thesis, personal training versus coaching, and how Future is using movement as a touchpoint to curb chronic disease.About Future: Future is a digital coaching platform that pairs users with coaches who manage their day-to-day health through personalized workout routines.About TXV: TXV Partners is a human performance-themed fund investing in consumer health, sports, software, and media. Check out their full portfolio here.Time Stamps:0:41: The pursuit of purpose5:20: Building an individualized human performance model at Purdue7:30: Informing TXV’s investment thesis at Future12:45: Being stubborn about reaching your goals16:13: What great mentoring/coaching looks like23:24: Redefining personal training30:45: Curbing chronic disease through coaching34:10: Future as the center of the client-health relationship36:58: Movement as a touchpoint for overall health41:28: TXV portfolio companies (Oura & Levels)51:10: Incentives in healthcare This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:A former D1 tennis player, CrossFitter, and strength coach, Jim Crowell has always understood his “why” for living a healthy lifestyle. He is now leveraging these unique experiences and skill sets to fund innovation in the fitness and wellness industry.As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The SageHouse, Jim helps fitness companies “Go farther, faster”. Structured as a holding company, The SageHouse offers consulting services (SageHouse Advisors) and funding opportunities (SageHouse Capital) for fitness and wellness companies, with the purpose of building foundations for long-term success.Today’s episode covers product-market fit, identifying a “why” for healthy living, and Jim’s plans to launch “Proof 3”, a series of healthspan-focused brick-and-mortar gyms.Timestamps:0:29: Identifying a deeper connection to healthy living2:48: Jim’s life in sport and finance6:03: Serving particular audiences in fitness & wellness9:27: Customer needs and how to solve them11:48: Pursuit of longer healthspan15:51: Credibility of longevity studies and real-time health tracking18:32: Relatability of health companies20:46: Role of education in showing consumers they have a problem25:30: Outlook on connected fitness30:51: “Proof 3” brick-and-mortar gyms targeting healthspan This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:People don’t like going to the doctor’s office. Dr. Ryan Greene of Monarch Athletic Club is changing that by re-inventing the primary care experience. Monarch is a wellness club with a board-certified care team that supports members through all aspects of health.With a background in allopathic and osteopathic medicine, Dr. Ryan Greene brings expertise in both clinical and lifestyle medicine. He has incorporated medically-driven services such as comprehensive blood work, physical therapy, and body composition scans, into an integrated and preventive medical practice doubling as a luxury gym.Focusing on the basic pillars of health — movement, nutrition, sleep, mental health, and community — Monarch’s care model helps members understand why these fundamental ideas are important for improving longevity and quality of life.Today’s episode covers key markers for longevity, the Monarch membership onboarding journey, and why investing in health will save the U.S. billions ($).Timestamps:0:41: Dr. Greene’s background in osteopathic and allopathic medicine3:03: MD vs. DO approach to care7:01: How to quantify and understand the signals our bodies give us8:02: Integrating consumer health with traditional medicine14:53: Creating community and connection in a healthcare setting16:21: Monarch Athletic Club member journey20:07: Empowering patients through education22:15: The importance of decision-making in sustaining a high quality of life25:12: Attracting the “average” American to join Monarch28:09: Healthcare spending on lifestyle-associated conditions32:16: Identifying your “why” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Playing the US Open at only 15 years old, CiCi Bellis is no stranger to performing under pressure. She brings these experiences as a professional tennis player — leading a team, weighing risks and returns, focusing on optimizing health and performance — to her new role as Managing Partner at Cartan Capital.Eyeing the sports and health tech markets, Cartan Capital invests in companies that innovate within the following four sub-verticals: sports performance, health & medical, fan engagement, and wellness & lifestyle. Surrounded by experts in technology, finance, health, and media, CiCi is the latest professional athlete to begin a career in venture capital.Today’s episode covers longevity & wellness, the intersection of sports and health, and raising a $10m fund at just 24 years old.Timestamps:0:27: CiCi’s journey to VC3:01: Running your own “business” as a professional athlete4:07: WTA partnership with Indiana University East5:01: Cartan Capital’s focus on longevity and wellness7:34: Wearable device applications for consumers9:25: Raising a pledge fund as a young GP11:49 Prospective companies12:12: Supporting the tennis community through VC14:28: The intersection of sports and health18:05: Demand for mental coaching solutions19:54: Drawing parallels between tennis and investing This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:Calley Means, Founder of TrueMed, has an education in policy that informs his understanding of incentives in modern-day healthcare. While hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and insurers rely on patients getting sick, Calley hopes to change this backward system by prescribing food, exercise, and sleep as medicine.His company leverages HSA/FSA funds to subsidize healthy brands, creating affordable access to nutritious foods, sleep and stress wearables, and even gym equipment. Partnering with companies ranging from Crossfit to InsideTracker, TrueMed connects consumers with tools that help them prioritize healthier lifestyle habits at a lower cost.Today’s episode covers rising rates of chronic disease, the economics of the food industry, and gaps in modern-day medical school curricula.Timestamps:0:23: The story behind TrueMed3:45: Unlocking FSA/HSA spending for healthy living5:20: Backward incentives and systemic problems in healthcare7:30: Economics of the food industry9:01: Taking health outside the doctor’s office10:10: Food, sleep, nutrition, as medicine10:50: Speaking out against corruption13:04: Innovation in consumer health15:20: Changing medical school curriculums This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com

Show Notes:For Brian Ferguson, CEO of Arena Labs, patient safety means supporting clinician wellbeing. Brian’s career has been dedicated to service, highlighted by his time at the White House as an appointee in the office of the Secretary of Defense as well as 7 years as an officer in the Navy.Influenced by the insights gained from biometrics and wearable technologies while in the military, Arena Labs is pioneering high-performance medicine by equipping front-line healthcare workers with the information and tools needed to improve recovery and manage stress. In doing so, Brian and his team are changing the clinician wellbeing narrative, shifting the focus from burnout to human flourishing.Today’s episode covers Brian’s connection to healthcare, high-performance medicine, and how Arena Labs is tackling clinician burnout.Timestamps:0:31: The idea behind High-Performance Medicine2:10: Brian’s journey to creating Arena Labs5:16: Shifting the narrative from burnout to human flourishing8:13: Using wearables to track biometrics of clinicians12:15: Evolution of the Arena Labs model16:14: How understanding healthcare drives content17:37: New partnership with Oura Ring20:53: Bringing value to health systems23:43: Impacting clinician well-being at scale This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nolanshah.substack.com