Quick update today - we officially crossed 8k of you WTHers (YAY) 🎉
Big thanks, friends. What a healthtech crew 💕
Whilst the world seems to be somewhat falling apart right now, at least we have each other… and it looks likehealth tech innovation, education and community is going from strength to strength, I guess?
Anywayyyy…
On to the news today!
🍩 TODAY’S ISSUE
Newsworthy
Sick Science
AI Updates
Startup Stuff
Events
Cool Content
Let’s jump in…
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🚀 Like DeepTech? Want to connect with connect with 400+ leaders from business, investment, and government?
Cicada x Tech23 is back on 7th August! Come celebrate radical innovation and brave ideas from 23 pioneering startups building revolutionary deep tech solutions - at Aus’s biggest Deep tech gathering.
You’ll hear from diverse voices discussing how to reimagine and rebuild systems to solve global challenges. Discover how emerging technologies are transforming healthcare, urban environments, and agriculture.
If unresolved, NIB's 1.3m members could lose coverage for surgeries at St Vincent's resulting in higher costs for patients
This is not the first time the Private Health crisis has caused hospital exclusions and declining coverage for Aussies… with things getting harder and insurance increasingly covering less.
📱An analysis of ~50,000 callers to Healthdirect’svirtual nurse triage service showed > 50% of people planned to visit ED or call 000 were redirected to other services - saving services
🌍 Remarkable announced their 2024 Global accelerator cohort of Disability Tech startups in their ft. solutions like home safety products and AI-driven job matching
With predictions that by 2062, the number of people >65 will more than double and those >85 will more than x3, so we better do something
🍭 A Parliamentary Committee recommended a sugary drink tax to lower diabetes and obesity rates in Aus
TLDR; It works, and its about bloody time Read up on the impacts of the sugar tax in the UK in Sick Science
🍆 Qld Healthpassed a bill requiring ART and IVF services to provide donor conception records andestablishing a central register and limits individual donor samples to 10 families
This comes after scandals like those behind the new netflix documentary The man with 1000 kids and other fertility mishaps
US & Beyond the Borders
🎓 Johns Hopkins Medical School will be free for those whose parents earn <$300K, thanks to a $1bn donation from billionaire Michael Bloomberg
💪 Function Health, a startup “putting consumers in the driver’s seat of their health” with +100 lab tests for US$499 a year - snagged a US$53m Series A ft. funding from a16z, celebs, athletes
3 IPOs, mainly to pay off debt, priced at a discount
M&A activity has slowed, especially among DH companies
PE is playing a bigger role in M&A with 10 deals so far this year
🚀 eHealth Ventures, an Israeli VC launched a fast-track pre-seed program for healthtech startups, offering up to $800k+ within 3 months and answers to applicants within 3 weeks
Deloitte has contracts with 25 states that are worth over $5 bn
Sick Science
♿️ ChatGPT is ableist? A UW Study found ChatGPT ranked resumes with disability-related credentials lower than identical resumes without. When asked to explain, it spat out biased perceptions of disabled people playing into the fear we all have of AI amplifying pre-existing biases. But when researchers customised the tool with written instructions directing it not to be ableist, the tool reduced this bias for all but one of the disabilities tested
🧫 Can Autism Be Diagnosed with a Stool Sample? Scientists at the University of Hong Kong found significant differences in gut microbes between autistic & non-autistic individuals, suggesting a stool test could diagnose autism early. Published in Nature Microbiology, the study used machine learning to identify autistic children with up to 82% accuracy, based on microbial and metabolic differences.
🍬 The Sugar Tax - A Sweet Success? A study found that sugar consumption from soft drinks in UK children halved after the 2016 sugar tax announcement. Researchers recommend expanding the tax to other high-sugar foods and drinks, with support from the British Dental Association for its tangible benefits.
🤖 AI Updates…
📱 Sam Altman and Arianna Huffington are funding Thrive AI Health - to develop a “customised, hyper-personalised AI health coach… available as a mobile app” to “reverse the trend lines on chronic diseases”
US Data. Source: Google Trends
🪑 Microsoft & Apple have opted out of board seats at OpenAI amidst increased regulatory scrutiny on tech giants' involvement in AI development
The Going Global Export Program supports NSW early-stage or new-to-market exporters in bringing digital health technology to the USA - More info & Apply here
Keen to build a biotech or commercialise your research?
This program helps Vic-based researchers, clinicians, and SMEs translate innovations into therapies through seminars on drug development guided by the Brandon Capital investment team - More info & Apply here
Are you a Southwest Sydney based founder?
UNSW Founders is hosting the Inaugural Pitch Night at South West at the Liverpool Innovation Precinct, where pitches compete for a $3.5K prize pool - More info & Apply here
Ready to amplify your impact in Medicine & Health?
The Medicine & Health Ignite Your Impact program, available on the UNSW Founders Online Community Platform, offers free modules in Influence & Advocacy, Translational Research, and Innovation - More info & Apply here
Want to strut your Startup on stage at SXSW?
Apply for the SXSW Sydney Pitch 2024! This year's winner will receive the opportunity to pitch at the Winner Ceremony at SXSW Austin 2025 (ft. free flights, badges and a host of other prizes) - More info & Apply here
Got an early-stage venture?
The 77 Venture Challenge offers a 12-week, equity-free program for ventures aiming to raise pre-seed -Series A. Enjoy feedback and transparency from the 77 Partners team, with a chance to secure a $100k - More info & Apply here
Dr. MH from the Hotchkiss Brain Institute talks about how cannabis affects the brain, comparing THC and CBD, consumption methods, and links to mental health
🎨 How powerful is marketing in making lifestyle, health and cultural changes? Only like, insanely…
Jo Birdrecently spotlighted this innovative ad campaign by Sport England and FCB Global: "This Girl Can" inspired 3M women to get active and garnered 37M+ social media views from all the way back in 2015
🎥 What’s the reality about AI and building startups or businesses in the space? Y Combinator has a killer vid on “The Truth About Building AI Startups Today” where YC Group Partners discuss lessons from top AI startup founders, share successful ideas, highlight mistakes, and analyse the competitive AI landscape
🍏 Concierge Medicine is all the rage with endless startups and raises… but what exactly is it? And whats going on? Check out Nikhil of Out-of-pocket’s epic piece The New Wave of Concierge Medicine
Last but not least, did you know radio still exists? In other news radio debut on ABC’s RN Drive, discussing investment and AI innovation in drug discovery.
💡Got thoughts? Something to include next time?
Hit reply or reach out to emily@whatthehealth.io to let us know!
