Going to work today

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by gatorjjh

so how is it going?

It's going well, I think. We've created some buzz in the venture capital community, at least the part that specializes in health technology. We have to follow up with a business plan that justifies our first round of funding, five to seven million. That's what we're working on now. Just finished a team building exercise. Very psyched right now.

[el_lagarto]

Wish I could explain what it is and what it does, but I barely understand it.

you should practice.

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by el_lagarto

you should practice.

I'm not taking part in the big presentation, but I wrote the application/proposal for the VC conference. I'm also crafting the "elevator speech" but it changes almost every day. We just added a new team member; Director of Product Development. She's got a lot of new ideas and new thinking to assimilate. In the mean time, I'm getting a crash course in data and cloud technology, health informatics, smart device technology and legislative initiatives surrounding health care.

[StrangeGator]

The current distillation of the enterprise goes something like this…

We combine data collection and business intelligence to engage patients in proactive self-care. Mobile devices allow users to transmit relevant health status data, such as diet, exercise, hours of sleep, etc. and receive constant feedback urging ideal health choices. Doctors are able to monitor patient status in real time using customized dashboards.

[LeafUF]

Sounds like a slightly more advanced fitbit or jawbone up.

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Sounds like a slightly more advanced fitbit or jawbone up.

Actually an extension of one or the other, probably fitbit. We're currently working with the fitbit API and talking with their organization about a strategic partnership. We're also talking to the private equity firm that is funding them.

In addition to the fitbit functionality will be applications specific to chronic illnesses like diabetes, colitis, heart disease, asthma, etc. That's when the feedback functions become more valuable as well as the connection to the patient health record and physician. A piece of data could be a warning sign and the provider dashboard will be equipped to alert doctor and possibly family caregivers. We do have some social networking functions built in.

It's pretty scalable. We're only asking for five to seven million dollars for the first round. It's conceivable that we could get to critical mass with only one more round of funding. Eventually the accumulated data will be our most valuable asset and the pharma industry our richest revenue stream.

[vaxcardinal]

until an unauthorized person gets access to the data...then it all comes crashing down

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by vaxcardinal

until an unauthorized person gets access to the data...then it all comes crashing down

We've got two or three security experts on the team, at least one of them with HIPPA compliance expertise. I'll bring that issue up the next time I talk to our CTO, but that particular threat hasn't come up in any discussions so far.

[StrangeGator]

Our application to the Venture Capital Summit in San Jose has been accepted. We need to throw down some quick presentations to local VCs, mainly the people who back 1871, the tech incubator where we got started. It's going to look bad if we started up there but ended up getting our series a funding from the west coast. Pritzker has to pony up or shut up.

http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/0...startup-space/

[LeafUF]

http://greatist.com/fitness/importan...ds-watch-2013/

#2 on this list seems to be in your favor if it comes true.

This year will see some changes: a greater use of apps to track personal health and fitness, especially innovation in mobile technology as related to hand-held or near-hand-held diagnostic equipment.

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

http://greatist.com/fitness/importan...ds-watch-2013/

#2 on this list seems to be in your favor if it comes true.

We're going to be big on #8 too, early disease detection. A friend of mine is a Neurologist who wants to meet with us to discuss some functionality regarding detection of things like MS, ALS and Alzheimer's two or three years before they become symptomatic.

My favorite on the list is #1, Breathing Big. I learned to focus on that years ago in martial arts, so it was natural to me when I started lifting.

Great article. I'm going to share this with the rest of the team. Thanks for sharing it.

[LeafUF]

Originally Posted by StrangeGator

We're going to be big on #8 too, early disease detection. A friend of mine is a Neurologist who wants to meet with us to discuss some functionality regarding functionality that would detect things like MS, ALS and Alzheimer's two or three years before they become symptomatic.

My favorite on the list is #1, Breathing Big. I learned to focus on that years ago in martial arts, so it was natural to me when I started lifting.

Great article. I'm going to share this with the rest of the team. Thanks for sharing it.

Seemed appropriate to what you are working on as well as many other conversations we have had around here. I have been reading about #1 a lot lately and have been trying to incorporate it into my training a little bit better. But as silly as it sounds I really feel like I could use a coach for it. Something more than a youtube video to go off of anyway.

[StrangeGator]

FYI, our CTO and his team just finished integrating every one of the Fitbit devices with our platform. We're going to be able to do a complete demo at the Venture Capital Summit next month.

BTW, it's in Mountain View, not San Jose. Not that it matters since I'm not going. I do get to go to the HIMMS (Healthcare Information Management Systems Society) Conference in New Orleans in March. Alone no less. As I understand it, most of the HIMMS vendor/client/member universe is female. That can't be a bad thing. Anybody see the movie Cedar Rapids.

My wife used to work for them and is still a member. I wonder if I can register under an assumed name.

[UF_HOSS]

keep us informed.....and good luck to you going forward!

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by LeafUF

Seemed appropriate to what you are working on as well as many other conversations we have had around here. I have been reading about #1 a lot lately and have been trying to incorporate it into my training a little bit better. But as silly as it sounds I really feel like I could use a coach for it. Something more than a youtube video to go off of anyway.

Take a Zen meditation class, or a beginning Judo or Aikido class. We spend time laying on our back and letting our partner put their hand on our diaphragm and feeling us breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth and nose. Just lay flat and practice by yourself. Push your belly out when you breath in and pull it tight when you exhale.

[g8rchica]

Good luck!

[StrangeGator]

Originally Posted by g8rchica

Good luck!

With the startup, or at the HIMMS conference? I might have to keep that confidential.

Seriously, I think we'll get something, but not the ten million we're now asking for. We could get to the point of producing our own revenue within two years with only four million, but we would have to create some revenue sharing alliances along the way. On the other hand, anyone who gives us ten mill will want a lot of control and will want a quick return. Personally, I just want some job security. Becoming a multi millionaire in five years is something I spend very little time dwelling on. My CEO thinks it's a sure thing. More power to her. The potential returns for society at large are huge. That's where I put my energy. We can change the entire healthcare landscape, making it work better for everyone. That along makes it worth working eighty hours a week.

[StrangeGator]

Still struggling to help people understand this enterprise. Last night, l explained it to my buddy Will at the beer, wine and cheese store (refer to beer thread) and he said, "So it's like Rhapsody for your health." I think that nails it.

[StrangeGator]

Had our first presentation to a VC group, New World Ventures, part of the Pritzker Group. It was more of a political play than anything. Kevin Willer and JB Pritzker are the big backers behind 1871, an effort to compete with the Silicon Valley and build a stronger tech center in Chicago and the midwest. Fascinating meeting. I didn't get to say much, just introduce myself and my role in the venture, and then push the start button on the 90 second animation I created that lays out the benefit proposition for the enterprise. From that point on, it was a high stakes poker game and I was just a fly on the wall. I think we got this guy off his balance a little, asking for $10 million without having any revenue coming in at all. He started off telling us we'd be better off getting two or three million a piece from multiple firms. When he finished debating and asking questions about how we get around a number of obstacles, he wished us good luck going out went and was very honest about Silicon Valley VCs being much more generous and less risk averse. They're also hungry for big data operations, which is the sector we'er in. He then said that maybe his firm was open to coming in with a smaller stake. Our CEO asked him how much smaller. He said $7 million. She said "No thank you." I almost fell out of my chair. Then again, I'm not very good at poker.

[sec1]

good luck brother ....