INSIGHTS
September 12, 2022

Reimagining opportunity and innovation in digital health

In 2020, Rock Health shared the Diversity in Digital Health survey and report, which highlighted the inequality in access to venture investment for women founders and founders of color. Those findings revealed significant funding gaps and signaled an opportunity to invest in a broader set of entrepreneurs. In the time since, through countless conversations with digital health leaders—and the expansion of our own research—we recognized the chance to dig in and do more. Today, we’re publishing RockHealth.org’s initial report—Reimagining Opportunity and Innovation in Digital Health—which identifies six near-term opportunities for change and tactical actions to increase support for underrepresented and underfunded innovators. While there are no easy fixes, we hope this work, as a foundational element of RockHealth.org’s new Equitable Investments Initiative, will build on the existing pool of knowledge and continue the momentum to support leaders that are building groundbreaking solutions. Read on to learn more about how to meaningfully support the efforts of diverse innovators across digital health.

We’ll be sharing more about RockHealth.org’s publication and the Equitable Investments Initiative at Rock Health Summit this Wednesday, September 14. We’re sold out of in-person tickets, but register to join us virtually and be a part of the conversation.

Headlines

New Apple Watch Adds Dual Body Temperature Sensors, FDA-Cleared Afib Tracking
New hardware and software debuts Fierce Biotech

Amazon’s Next Healthcare Venture May Be In Japan
Pharmacy medication delivery is being considered The Verge 

Walmart, UnitedHealth To Offer Preventive Healthcare Program For Seniors
10-year partnership will kick off in Florida and Georgia in early 2023 Reuters

What Happens To Patients When Telehealth Businesses Shutter?
“Failing fast” can have real health implications STAT

A Revised Hippocratic Oath for the Era of Digital Health
Ethical considerations for modern times JMIR

Alphabet's Verily Raises $1B
Gearing up for a health tech "arms race" Fortune

Recent Funding