Live at ViVE: Investing in Diverse Founders of Healthcare Tech—with Justin Williams

We know that diverse founders only receive a fraction of VC funding. And that healthcare inequality is exacerbated by the lack of diverse perspectives and solutions in healthcare tech.

But what if there was a venture fund that focused on diverse founders building healthcare technology for the communities they come from?

Justin Williams is Principal at Seae Ventures, an investment firm specializing in early-stage healthcare technology companies founded by diverse entrepreneurs.

In his role at Seae, Justin leads portfolio sourcing, deal due diligence, financial modeling and portfolio management.

On this episode of The Beat, Justin joins host Dr. Jessica Shepherd to discuss healthcare portfolios that focus on diversity and disadvantaged communities.

Justin shares examples of Seae’s portfolio companies, explaining how Functional Fluidics serves patients with sickle cell disease and Kiyatec helps cancer patients make personalized therapy decisions.

Listen in for insight on implementing new innovations in diverse patient populations and learn how Seae is moving the needle on health equity by investing in diverse founders of healthcare tech.

Topics Covered

What inspired Justin’s transition from finance to healthcare investingHow its mission to advance equity through opportunity drew Justin to SeaeHow Functional Fluidics serves patients with sickle cell diseaseThe benefit of founders being a part of the communities they serveJustin’s passion for investing in diverse founders who help underserved communitiesHow Kiyatec helps cancer patients make personalized treatment decisionsIdentifying how certain communities, ethnicities and genders respond to cancer therapiesSeae’s strategies for finding new portfolio companiesThe diversity among Seae’s team and the company’s group of foundersHow Seae works with FQHCs to implement tech solutions in diverse patient populationsJustin’s advice for aspiring VCs from diverse communities

Connect with Justin Williams

Seae VenturesJustin on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Gautam Gulati & Dr. Jessica Shepherd

ViVEHLTHDr. Shepherd on TwitterDr. Shepherd on LinkedInDr. Gulati on TwitterDr. Gulati on LinkedIn

Resources

Functional FluidicsKiyatecSeae’s Partnership with EBNHC