a16z Bio + Health

Part of AI’s strength lies in its ability to explore vast chemical spaces quickly and efficiently, discovering new targets and molecules with multi-objective optimization - like finding strong binders that are soluble and non-toxic - at a fraction of the time and cost. Recently, Surya Ganguli, Vijay Pande, PhD, and Bowen Liu explored these opportunities in a deep discussion on AI at the intersection of biology. Watch on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/gUkCr5BK

How can Medicaid better serve pregnant women and reduce healthcare disparities? In the final episode of our 3-part Medicaid series, Marta Bralic Kerns, CEO of Pomelo Care, shares how her company is partnering with Medicaid to close gaps in maternal healthcare. Medicaid patients face higher risks, with conditions like diabetes and hypertension on the rise. Many times, Medicaid doesn’t even know a woman is pregnant until much later in her pregnancy. Join Marta and a16z venture partner, William Shrank to discuss how the company is solving this through proactive data tracking and personalized virtual care. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/gDsSht2a

Who’s at #AHIPDigital? Julie Yoo, a16z general partner, is presenting today, September 24th, on Best in Class Digital Health Engagement Insights from Other Industries. She'll be in good company — 500 hundred forward-thinking healthcare leaders are coming together to dig deep into how new tech translates to more personalized care and better health outcomes.  More here: https://lnkd.in/eMY5xdEj

How do you simplify Medicaid navigation for millions of Americans? The process is notoriously complex, varying by state and fraught with barriers like changing eligibility rules, confusing enrollment options, and language limitations. Nikita Singareddy, CEO of Fortuna Health, outlines a three-part approach in her conversation with a16z venture partner, William Shrank: 👉🏼 Eligibility awareness: Helping households understand Medicaid eligibility, which vary based on income, immigration status, and even medical conditions. 👉🏼 Accurate enrollment: Ensuring the right information is submitted across different application methods (online, paper, in-person). 👉🏼 Renewal support: Guiding users through the renewal process to avoid denial or lapses in coverage. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/gf_vNcyy

“GC Therapeutics is flipping the entire iPSC differentiation paradigm on its head. Rather than manually iterating through a limited set of differentiation protocols, the Human TFome technology platform instead deploys large-scale combinatorial screening to discover new hypotheses and better methods that are as-yet unknown to even the best biologists.” - Vineeta Agarwala, MD PhD, a16z general partner. Read the full investment thesis from Vineeta here: https://lnkd.in/gG8UaJdC

For many hard-to-treat diseases, delivering functional cells back to patients could offer enormous clinical benefit. But scaling cellular medicines is not an easy task. We believe GC Therapeutics’ innovative TFome™ platform will overcome this barrier by streamlining the differentiation and development of off-the-shelf iPSC-derived cell therapies, enabling rapid production with improved potency, efficiency, and scalability. Welcome GC Therapeutics to the a16z Bio + Health portfolio! None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi for more information.

As more people handle out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, there’s a growing need for platforms that simplify the experience for these "micro payors." Health insurance marketplaces like ACA and Medicare Advantage already put spending control in consumers' hands. But more seamless tools are needed—like integrating payment systems, tax law compliance, and user-friendly interfaces to make insurance shopping easier. Plus, cash-pay services, healthcare-specific financing like BNPL, and innovative funding tools (like ICHRA or directed spend cards) are helping consumers manage and reduce healthcare costs. The rise of consumer-driven healthcare spending signals a future where free market dynamics may foster more competition and efficiency in the system. Read the full analysis from Julie Yoo: https://lnkd.in/gr5Zhqay

Partnering with Medicaid can unlock opportunities, but it requires an understanding of its complexities. Medicaid is growing rapidly, covering about a third of California's population and funding nearly half of all births. However, access issues persist due to bureaucracy, eligibility hurdles, and underfunding. We've put together a 3-part series - Medicaid Matters - focused on demystifying Medicaid for entrepreneurs. Check out episode one with Mark Smith, Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco, in conversation with a16z venture partner, William Shrank. Listen on Raising Health: https://lnkd.in/efyDzmr2

While advanced algorithms are valuable, the true differentiator is the ability to generate and control clean, relevant data. Unique data enables companies to build more accurate models and innovate solutions that are difficult for competitors to replicate. Recently, Kim Branson, SVP Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at GSK, sat down with Vijay Pande, PhD, a16z general partner, to discuss how AI is impacting our industry and what comes next. Watch the full conversation here: https://lnkd.in/dE6hXZCX

Congratulations to Genesis Therapeutics! None of the above should be taken as investment advice or an advertisement for investment services; please see https://lnkd.in/gjmYWkHi for more information.