My name is Jae and I am the founder/CEO of goBalto, a venture-backed SF based company, that delivers easy to use web products for clinical research. When I’m not leading my kick-a$$ team at goBalto, I am a mentor to the kick-a$$ teams at Rock Health, a seed accelerator for healthcare startups.
I recently learned that a certain unnamed user researcher whom I met at a Rock Health mixer accepted my offer to join the fast growing ranks at goBalto. (This particular new hire has not given notice, ergo the unnamed party.) While I was relishing in the moment (good user researchers are REALLY hard to find!), it dawned on me on how great it has been for both my company and myself to have met Halle Tecco and be associated with Rock Health.
This post reflects my personal experience working with Rock Health and their team over the duration of their inaugural class. It describes why I believe having folks like Halle are critical to spurring the growing interest in healthcare and make them so effective at what they do.
Here are 5 reasons why…
1. Drive visibility to the cause.
Health care technology is hot again. Many of the major biotech venture capital firms are vying to position themselves as the leader in this next wave of innovation. I don’t know how long this latest period of interest will last. However, I do know that part of the increased visibility (particularly with the local startup crowd) is due to Rock Health. I overheard one venture capitalist say that “Halle has helped make healthcare cool.” Say what you will, but many of the bright minds in Silicon Valley are just as attracted to the “coolness” of an idea as it is to the positive change it represents.
2. Bring together people passionate in healthcare + tech
Wanted. People who want to improve healthcare and start companies to do so. This calls for a very special mix of crazy and passion. Rock Health provides a platform for such folks to network and share resources. In addition to the typical issues a startup faces, these folks have the added challenge of grappling with the complexities of a healthcare system gone amuck. Having everybody in a single locale has helped foster knowledge sharing.
For me, it really clicked when we found our user researcher. Finding a stellar user researcher is hard enough. Finding somebody who has a passion for healthcare and wants to work in a startup? Not too many of those folks waiting around in the wings. We found ours at a Rock Health event and immediately connected. Why? Because we shared the same passion to make a difference in healthcare.
3. Access to Silicon Valley and beyond
Rock Health gives you some cash. However, IMHO, the biggest bang comes from getting access to people in the Rock Health ecosystem. Ever hear the adage “it’s all in who you know?” If its true, you can do far worse then get plugged into the Rock Health network. Advisors. Lawyers. Investors. CEOs. Through the Rock Health network, you will definitely find someone who can help you get connected to a person of interest. How do I know? In the 6 months since I got “plugged-in”, here’s whom I got the pleasure of meeting and engaging. At the launch party, I rode the elevator up with a venture capitalist who would eventually lead my Series-A. Also hooked up with Eric Ries, Pete founder of Optimizely (sings a mean karaoke), Todd Park, CTO of Health of Human Services, Mitch Kapor, creator of Lotus 1-2-3… the list goes on…
Lean Startup Guru, Eric Ries and Me
4. Practical mentorship
Mentors and advisers make time available. From building advisory boards, recruiting, startup accounting, collecting user feedback, intellectual property law, to designing websites and pitching investors. Seminars are given on almost a weekly basis to help the participants advance to the next level. This is highly practical stuff. Not the conceptual bullshitake.
5. Friendships and Fun
Being able to karaoke, kicking back a few over happy hour and having colleagues to b!t$h to. What better way to build your company than with friends who intimately understand what you’re going through?
Leslie Ziegler, creative director of Rock Health representing in Africa (Nice shirt!)
In Closing…
I guess you can tell by now, I’m a fan. However, with great success come the naysayers. I have heard some whispers of discontent leveled at Rock Health pertaining to some anti-competitive attitudes and lack of experience. It’s inevitable. When you get a young group of folks making waves, there will be people who will find something to rally against. While I’m unsure how grounded in truth these accusations are, I can say this. In the past 9 months I’ve gotten to know Halle and her team, I have no doubt that they are in this to make positive change. Are things perfect? Are they ever? But, damned if I know other folks who have done so much to bring together as many folks in so little time to elevate the cause of healthcare technology in the Valley.
If you are a startup entrepreneur with the next big disruptive idea in healthcare, I would encourage you to apply to their program. [DEADLINE 11:59PM PT on NOVEMBER 14, 2011] The experience you get will be worth it. If you want to learn more about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur, check out this post.
Can’t wait for Class # 2!
Halle and Jae at Rock Health Launch
CEO, goBalto
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Outstanding!
Thank you, Jae.
Perhaps, we’ll have an opportunity to share our successes.
Continuing to advance the ‘state of the art’.
Regards,
Dennis Wright
Dennis, thanks for the kind words. We should swap war stories. It’s been (and will continue to be) a fun ride. Best, Jae