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Part 3 of 3: Choosing an Investment Partner Beyond Capital
For healthcare founders, securing investment capital is an important milestone. Choosing the right investment partner can have an equally important impact on a company's future.
Bringing healthcare technologies to market requires clinical expertise, industry relationships, and a clear plan for commercialization. An experienced investment partner can help founders navigate these challenges and make informed decisions as their companies grow.
In Parts 1 and 2 of our series, we explored how early detection and prevention can improve patient care and the four factors that influence whether healthcare innovations succeed.
In this final installment, we return to the AZBio White Hat Life Science Investor Conference discussion between Seed Healthcare CEO Todd Perman and Dr. Jacque Sokolov to explore an important question for healthcare founders: What should you look for in an investment partner beyond capital?
Their discussion highlighted four important considerations: commercialization experience, clinical relationships, strategic support, and a shared commitment to long-term growth.
Look for Commercialization Experience
Developing a promising healthcare technology is only the beginning. Building a successful company also requires understanding customers, establishing market demand, and creating a clear path to revenue.
During the White Hat discussion, Todd emphasized the role investors can play in helping portfolio companies grow sales and develop a sustainable business.
▶ Watch Todd discuss the investor's role beyond capital (22:49)
Founders should consider the experience a prospective investment partner brings to the table. Do they understand how healthcare organizations evaluate and purchase new technologies? Can they help identify potential customers, refine commercial priorities, and establish realistic growth milestones?
The support a company needs will depend on its stage of development. A company preparing for its first clinical deployment may need help connecting with providers, while a more established business may benefit from guidance on expanding into new markets or building a stronger sales organization.
An experienced investment partner can help founders focus their resources, make informed decisions, and move toward sustainable commercial growth.
Build Meaningful Clinical Relationships
In healthcare, relationships with the right clinicians and industry leaders can make a significant difference in how a company develops and brings its technology to market.
An investment partner with an established healthcare network can connect founders with physicians, healthcare executives, and other industry experts who understand the challenges their technologies are designed to address.
During the discussion, Todd described how Seed involves its board and clinical advisory team during due diligence to evaluate potential applications, identify likely users, and explore opportunities to support portfolio company growth.
▶ Watch Todd discuss clinician-informed diligence and network support (33:03)
Founders should ask how a prospective investor's network can support their company's specific needs. Can they facilitate conversations with relevant healthcare providers? Help identify potential implementation challenges? Offer insight into how health systems make purchasing and adoption decisions?
These relationships can also benefit providers by giving them an opportunity to share feedback and help shape technologies around the realities of patient care.
For founders, access to relevant clinical expertise can improve product development, strengthen commercialization strategies, and create opportunities for future growth.
Turn Strategic Guidance Into Action
Healthcare founders need investment partners who can help them put plans into motion.
During the White Hat discussion, Todd emphasized the importance of leadership, collaboration, capital, and operational processes in bringing new technologies into clinical practice.
▶ Watch Todd discuss the work behind clinical adoption (30:48)
Before choosing an investment partner, founders should understand how that investor plans to support the company after the investment is made. Will they help establish commercialization priorities? Introduce potential customers or strategic partners? Provide guidance on market expansion, operational challenges, or future financing?
Clear expectations help both sides understand where support is needed, who will be involved, and how progress will be measured.
A strong partnership allows founders to remain focused on building their companies while drawing on the investor's experience, relationships, and resources to help move the business forward.
Find a Partner Committed to Long-Term Growth
Healthcare companies often face a long and complex path to commercialization. Clinical development, regulatory requirements, reimbursement decisions, and provider adoption can introduce challenges that require companies to adjust their strategies along the way.
During the discussion, Dr. Sokolov emphasized the importance of investors remaining actively involved in helping healthcare companies navigate these challenges.
▶ Watch Jacque discuss hands-on investment partnerships (35:47)
Founders should have open conversations with prospective investors about how they approach setbacks, evaluate changing priorities, and support companies through difficult decisions.
Understanding an investor's experience, available resources, and level of involvement can help founders determine whether the partnership is a good fit for their company's needs.
The strongest relationships are built on shared goals, clear communication, and a commitment to working together as the company grows.
Building Partnerships That Advance Healthcare Innovation
Choosing an investment partner is an important decision that can influence a healthcare company's development, commercialization, and long-term success.
At Seed Healthcare, this approach is central to how we invest. We combine capital with healthcare industry experience, clinical expertise, and a network of physicians and strategic partners to help portfolio companies navigate commercialization, connect with providers, and expand their market reach.
Our goal is to help promising healthcare technologies reach the point of care, with a focus on advancing early disease detection, prevention, and better patient outcomes.
Across this three-part series, Todd and Jacque's discussion has reinforced the importance of connecting innovation with the resources and expertise needed to bring it into clinical practice. From establishing clinical value and navigating regulatory requirements to building sustainable business models and finding the right partners, each step plays a role in turning promising technologies into solutions that improve patient care.
For founders, the right investment partner can make a meaningful difference throughout that journey.
Connect with Seed Healthcare
Seed Healthcare works with innovative healthcare companies and investors to advance technologies focused on early disease detection, prevention, and better patient outcomes.
For Healthcare Founders: Developing a healthcare technology that aligns with Seed's investment focus? Contact our team to introduce your company and explore potential investment and partnership opportunities.
For Investors: Interested in learning more about Seed Healthcare, our portfolio companies, or upcoming investment and co-investment opportunities? Connect with our Investor Relations team to start a conversation.