In Conversation With
First up, give us the elevator pitch for Heydoc?
Our mission is to improve healthcare! Heydoc is a cloud-based clinical system used throughout the day by clinicians and administrative staff in healthcare settings. It improves the efficiency of clinics, enhances services for patients, connects organisations across healthcare networks and provides powerful insights into data collected along the way.
Looking towards 2021, what are some of the opportunities and challenges you see for early stage healthcare companies?
Historically, healthcare systems have been slow to adopt new technology. But the current crisis has demanded new solutions, and small healthtech companies possess the tools and agility needed to provide them quickly.
The last six months have hugely accelerated the testing and implementation of digital tools; demonstrating how they can help tackle healthcare challenges new and old. And although building a business in the midst of a pandemic is not without its difficulties, it’s opened the way for innovation and progress.
What should founders look for in their investors? What can the right ones bring to the table?
In the face of challenges, investors can open doors, make connections and provide you with routes to potential solutions. But only if you trust them enough to call them when things go wrong and have open conversations about how to resolve them. So rather than just looking for ‘investors’, think about looking for ‘partners’. At the end of the day, founders are the ones waking up in the middle of the night obsessing about the details and dealing with the ups and downs of running the business. So it’s important to have someone who is able to both get involved when needed and assess the situation to provide you with a third-party perspective.
What advice would you give founders looking to raise early-stage funding?
Few very fortunate founders are able to raise quickly and easily. For most, it can be a difficult and drawn-out process. The key to seeing it through is perseverance and conviction. If you believe in your business, you will ultimately find investors who share in that belief. And the rewards of continuing the next stage of your journey with their backing will all be worth it!
How did you find the process of pitching for investment from InHealth Ventures?
Ironically, pitching for investment often depletes business owners’ most precious resource; time. Early stage funding can be hugely time-intensive. But, being so well versed in healthcare, InHealth Ventures streamlined the process from start to finish. Their expertise negated the need for lengthy exposition or back and forth, freeing us up to focus on running the business. But beyond that, they’ve taught us a lot along the way. Having such deep knowledge of healthcare onside is a valuable asset in its own right.
What has raising VC investment enabled you to achieve as a business?
First and foremost, VC investment has enabled me to invest in the people behind the business. Having hired new talent and built a team made up of experts in each of their respective fields, we’re now in the strongest position possible to continue growing.
And, finally, what’s your top book recommendation for entrepreneurs?
The Count of Monte Cristo, because after a demanding day there’s nothing better than embarking on a wonderful journey of escapism. Plus, it’s written with such fluidity – in French at least! Otherwise, I recently read The Five Dysfunctions of a Team (the Mange edition) and found it super insightful.
This Q&A with Christoph Lippuner from Semble (previously Heydoc)was done in November 2020
Return to Updates