Welcome to Learning with Rishad. I'm Rishad Usmani, and I appreciate you joining me on this exploration of diverse ideas and concepts.
My personal journey has been shaped by a unique blend of cultural experiences. Growing up in the vibrant city of New Delhi, India, instilled in me a deep appreciation for varied perspectives. This understanding was further broadened when I moved to Canada at the age of sixteen, navigating a new environment and embracing its opportunities.
Professionally, my background as a physician has provided me with valuable insights into the healthcare landscape. I hold a perspective that values structured decision-making and clearly defined outcomes, yet I also recognize the importance of challenging conventional approaches in the pursuit of progress. I am a proponent of an idea meritocracy, where well-informed ideas are given precedence.
My entrepreneurial spirit has led me to not only invest in innovative ventures but also to build them myself. I previously founded a startup called ClinicUp, which grew to serve a significant patient base of 1100 individuals. While ClinicUp ultimately did not succeed in the long term, the experience provided invaluable lessons in the challenges and complexities of building and scaling a healthcare technology company. These learnings continue to inform my perspective as an investor and as someone deeply engaged in the healthtech ecosystem.
Currently, I am an active angel investor, supporting transformative ventures, and I am also the founder of HealthTech Investors, a platform dedicated to fostering growth and investment in the health technology sector. Through HealthTech Investors, I aim to connect promising startups with the resources and expertise they need to scale and improve healthcare. I've had the privilege of investing in companies such as Sano, SOAP Health, Vena Medical, Inherent Biosciences, and Abstractive Health, all of which are working on compelling solutions within the healthcare system.
Thank you for joining me as I do deep dives with founders, physicians and investors on the future of health innovation!