The Best Healthcare Startups of 2019

For a detailed and comprehensive list of the best healthcare startups of 2019 as a whole, we would require a listing of at least anywhere around 200 different companies. So, for this article, we will focus on a specific kind of company in healthcare; those who are setting new trends in the drug discovery business. How about we get to it? We shall get to more coverage of this kind of companies in other categories over the course of upcoming reviews.

Verge Genomics

What sets this company apart is its approach with artificial intelligence to determine drugs that are more likely to be successful; especially in terms of FDA approval. Founded in 2015, this drug research company focuses on “Leveraging machine learning to drastically reduce the time and cost of drug discovery” and thrives on making the best of “top machine learning experts and seasoned neuroscience drug developers” to improve the lives of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. All in all, the company is helping physicians have access to cures for diseases of the brain such as ALS, Parkinsons and Alzheimer's. Their last round back in 2018 raised $32 million in Series A financing that was led by DFJ.

Verge Genomics website

Prellis Biologics

Holographic 3D laser printing technology doesn’t rest in the entertainment industry, we know. On the contrary, the high value in the medical world for this San Francisco based biotechnology company has to do with the production of tissues, such as vascular ones and other human organs within the scope of a lab. New possible therapies and better research come as side earnings to the ability of organ reproduction from a patient’s cells. Taking organ production in their own hands, Prellis Biologics puts an end to the only foreseeable and hoped-for future of organ donation for some at a company valuation below the billion.

Prellis Biologics website

Embleema

Celebrated for a recent launch of a HIPAA compliant healthcare blockchain network; Embleema has facilitated patient access to medical records that can be shared with researchers and physicians alike. Bringing consolidated data to the table, this medical data company has furthermore inserted cryptocurrency in profit exchange methods for medical data shares. With the “best-in-class encryption,” their website platform allows for distribution of clinical consent and patient opt-ins, which also re-shapes consent management with smart contracts. Based out of New Jersey, the company’s latest deal amount consisted of $120K with $3.7M of capital raised to date and at least one integration at Alchemist Blockchain Techstars Accelerator.

Embleema Website

Related read: Pitch Deck examples from successful startups

Tempus

We include Tempus to this list as “the world’s largest library of clinical and molecular data” is no minimal achievement. Topped with an OS, the company is making data accessible for patients, doctors and researchers alike. Through machine learning, genomic sequencing, and other AI tools, cancer is the main scope of focus for this company in order to customize patient effective treatments. The last round of funding for this medical startup based out of Chicago and launched in 2015 bore $200 million, which skyrocketed their valuation to above $3 billion.

Tempus Website

Neolight

Baby-centered devices for infants with life-threatening conditions is the main scope for this phototherapy system knowledgeable company that aims to reduce readmission figures and, instead, bring jaundice treatment back home, next to parents. Through blue light emissions at high intensity, Neolight manages to offer treatment for neonatal jaundice, a condition that is present in 60% of babies at a global scale; yet, they manage to do so by ensuring a lack of heat in the process and adjustment capabilities for ease of transportation and product mounting. At around $10 to $15million in valuation and led by a Forbes 30 under 30, their latest round this year raised $2.5 million.

Neolight Website

Onkos Surgical

Of the surgical device industry as primary niche, it is with “[...] My3DTM technology, [that] ONKOS SURGICAL develops personalized implant, instrument and anatomic model designs to aid surgeons when performing operative procedures.” Also from their own description, the New-Jersey based startup basically creates “pre and intra-operative solutions” through 3D computer models scans. Founded in 2015, their latest deal type is reported as a series B on the latest deal a bit above the $22 million.  

Onkos Surgical Website

Higi

Let’s travel a bit to the Windy City areas with this Chicago based healthcare startup that is bringing wheelchair accessible health-care kiosks not only to common health-care venues such as pharmacies but also to a club and regular grocery stores. Higi’s business fosters supportive community settings that are geared towards weight management and other health-driven initiatives. The company speaks of health ownership and trust in the numbers, presumably for what is pretty direct client engagement and connection marketing strategy. Described as “easy, accurate and safe,” the “free higi check” neon banner on their metal machines are quite catchy to the eye. Aside from already being FDA cleared and “scientifically calibrated to an accuracy of four decimal points” in accordance with Higi’s own rapport via their website. With an app, Higi connects to their user’s step trackers on their smartphones. That is a nice link to the tech world in a user-friendly approach for this 60-70 employee-based company that closed their latest deal towards June of this year at $10million.

Higi Website

BioLert Electro Medical Systems

Now that we touched the smartphone ease as a plus side to healthcare startups, let’s wrap it up with BioLert, an actionable seizure alert system based, precisely, on a smartwatch and smartphone app. Capturing data on chronic seizures at the onset, algorithms notice vital information that is not only uploaded to a cloud but also used to issue a notification to its users, as well as to caregivers and other medical professionals. Evidently focused on “ the development and manufacture of medical devices for the monitoring of vital signs,” the company was founded back in 2005 and offers their download for a monthly fee.

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