Healthcast takes the stress out of providing the best possible care.
Name: Healthcast US, Inc.
Location: 112 West Pike Street, Covington, KY 41011
Website: https://health-cast.com/
Product/Service Offering: Take the stress out of cold and flu season
Co-founder Interviewed: Dr. Glenn Lawyer
Other Key Management Team Members: Tobias Theobald (MSc), Tariq Khaleeq (MSc)
Dr. Glenn Lawyer, Co-founder
Tell us a little about yourself with a focus on what motivates you?
Sometimes something greater calls you. You see a problem in the world and know that the solution involves you. Your only option is to do your duty, even if it means sacrifice. A special energy comes from surrendering yourself to a cause.
Providing good healthcare to your loved ones is growing increasingly complex. The threat from both old and new diseases is growing ever stronger. It is not only a personal or family problem, but also, it is a threat to our communities and society.
We are building a new infrastructure which empowers individuals to navigate the complexities to beat this threat. We are building systems which allow people and communities to better understand and provide for their health and that unify efforts into a greater whole.
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We are also parents. In the short term, we know the stress and worry when our kids are sick and want a better way to handle this. In the long term, we want to build a society that we are proud to leave to our children, where community matters.
When did you establish your company and where did the idea originate?
When did you establish your company and where did the idea originate? We incorporated in November 2015. The company grew out of our research and experience at the Max Planck Institute. Our institute is at the cutting edge in machine intelligence, and we have seen up close some of the amazing potential this technology brings to healthcare. We want to make it available to everyone.
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What need or needs does your company seek to fill for its customers?
Colds and flu are the most common diseases of humans, and a major source of stress and worry. They can also be deadly, for example a recent outbreak of common cold in a veteran’s home in New York had a 7% mortality rate.
We help people avoid colds and flu by letting them know when they are active in their community. If you or a loved one does get a cold, we take the stress out by providing them the best possible care.
What is the one thing that sets your company apart from its competitors?
We are like a GPS for guiding you through cold and flu season. We show you what is relevant to your personal situation and walk you along the steps you need to stay healthy or get healthy.
There are a lot of places you can get health information. These rarely understand your personal situation, nor do they help you organize and implement their advice. There is also the question of credibility.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while getting your company up and running, and how did you overcome it?
The transition from academia to business took some time. We made the transition thanks to support from the following people: our early mentors, friends, and other members of the startup ecosystem. The patience these people showed us and their faith in our vision, even when we couldn’t express it clearly, made all the difference.
Are there resources you have utilized that other founders might find compelling or useful.
We are really impressed by what we have seen so far in Cincinnati. I would say get plugged into the local networks, such as the Kentucky Innovation Network and Cintrifuse.
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What steps have you taken to secure funding for your company and what, if anything, would you do differently if you had to start over?
We started in Europe where startup funding is very, very hard to find. People do not like to invest until you have revenue. So we built the company off of our own savings. If I had known this, I would have spent a lot more time in the beginning building the service and a lot less time making pitch decks.
Have there been any questions you have had as an entrepreneur of a fledgling startup that you had a particularly hard time finding the answers to?
Lots! It is so important to plug into an ecosystem, such as UpTech. You can always find someone who can help you with a question. If not, you become the source and have something to contribute back.
In the end your intuition probably knows the right answer. The problems start when you doubt your insights. Mentors and networks then come into play. You have a safe space to test and develop what your intuition has suggested until it has become a practical solution.
What challenges, if any, are you grappling with?
Days only have 24 hours. We are looking to bring in some software developers to help us move the project forward faster. We see so much potential for what we could do. Our task is to focus on one specific point. You have to turn away from the temptation to over-commit yourself.
What is the most helpful tip or “hack” you’ve ever learned, stumbled across, or been given?
Find good mentors.
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Is there anything else you would like to share about your company?
[laughs] Healthcast looking for beta testers? Those interested are requested to go to our Website. We are allocating spaces in fixed lots, so people should sign up fast to get in early.
Sandra Sloan
Sandra has previous supply chain and business operations experience which she is leveraging as an author with FundingSage focused on spotlighting entrepreneurs and their startup efforts.
