Investing

Although investment slowed for startups, leaders noted several big deals in digital health, particularly among retail players.

Drug development platform Quris raised another $9 million, and PharmStars is accepting applications for its accelerator cohort focused on women's health and health equity.

Execs said investors will focus on companies with evidence of market fit, established business models and those achieving measurable health outcomes.   

The year was plagued by layoffs, slowing investments and an increased need for companies to prove their market value.

Aegis Ventures' John Beadle discusses partnerships between venture capital firms and health systems, the move from direct-to-consumer to business-to-business models and what digital health investment could look like next year.

The investment will support Nectar's growth nationwide, fund clinical trials and help the company open a physical location.

The startup offers access to advocates who can help family caregivers make plans or solve problems as well as a digital health platform.

Also, a Thai language speech recognition AI has been deployed for screening depression in Thailand.

It delivers ethnicity-specific brain scan analysis within 20 minutes.

Disease detection company Cardiosense, sustainable pill bottle maker Cabinet Health, testing company LumiraDx and physician engagement platform KeyOps also garner investments.