#latest

Curious what inspires successful entrepreneurs to take on a new challenge? Seasoned startup veteran Samer Hamadeh, Co-Founder & CEO of Zeel, gives the lowdown on breaking into a new market in the latest episode of StartUp Health NOW.

#headlines

23andMe launches in the UK despite not being available for US consumers. The genetics company is still working toward FDA clearance at home while UK residents are now able to access over 100 digital reports about their ancestry, hereditary traits and risk factors for certain diseases. Reuters

LG gains FDA clearance for SmartHealth —  an unknown product focused on cardiovascular health. While LG has not confirmed what SmartHealth will be (a watch? an app?), the FDA approval signals something more medically advanced than the already available LifeBand Touch wearable and fitness tracking LG Health app. MobiHealthNews

Disruptive innovation only occurs when underserved markets have access to the same products as the rich says Marc Andreessen. The legendary VC took Twitter by storm to clarify his definition of disruption, which according to Andreessen, is not just a buzzword, but instead the shrinking of consumer inequality. VentureBeat

Social networks, including Facebook, should have access to consumer health information says Founder of USC Center for Body Computing. Leslie Saxon, MD, shares how the power of large online communities can create changes in healthcare ranging from increased physician monitoring to better peer support. Forbes

Workplace leaders could change American healthcare according to a new study. Researchers from the Vitality Institute found that office culture is a leading cause of unhealthy habits, but it is also one of the easiest problems to fix. This poses a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to transform the health of their team! Fast Company

#academy

Care coordination platform CareLinx secured funding from Ziegler Link-age Longevity Fund. CareLinx allows users to hire, manage and pay caregivers from a selection of 20,000 background-checked professionals. This is the third investment from the Ziegler Link-age Longevity Fund, which was established this summer. MedCity News

Medicast featured as part of the growing on-demand market, which is thriving by combining emerging tech with traditional services. With its app that brings doctors to patients' doors, Medicast is adding to the on-demand space, which has seen $1.75B of funding since 2009. CNET

As a finalist in Verizon’s Powerful Answers competition, smart pill bottle company AdhereTech is honored for introducing innovation that will change everyday lives. The winner of the competition will be announced in January. Verizon

#events

mHealth Summit
December 7-11 National Harbor, MD
Tickets are still available for next week’s summit! Make sure to check out the StartUp ‘Mobile’ Health Pavilion while you’re there to meet the companies disrupting healthcare, and don’t miss our panel focused on the clinical uses of digital health featuring StartUp Health entrepreneurs and StartUp Health President Unity Stoakes. Our partner code SUH14 will save you $100 off your ticket when you register.

RE.WORK Future Health Summit
February 12-13 Dublin, Ireland
Experience how new innovations, including 3D printing and nanotechnology, can positively disrupt healthcare by joining industry leaders for discussions on how to integrate cutting-edge tech into our everyday lives. The code STARTUPHEALTH will provide you 20% off your registration.

For more digital health events, visit our website.

#insights

So far, digital health companies have raised $7.08B in 2014, according to StartUp Health Insights. Here are a few of the most recent deals:

Remote patient monitoring company Vivify Health raised part of a $15M round from LabCorp and others to build out its sales team and bring the product to a broader patient base. The company’s platform, which is often white labeled, currently comes pre-loaded on a tablet device and is targeted towards high-risk patients. MobiHealthNews

German medical tourism startup Medigo landed $6.2M from Accel and others to bring its marketplace to the US and UK. The company’s platform allows patients to connect with over 400 hospitals and clinics outside of their home countries for medical procedures. TechCrunch

Gamgee secured $4M from Vinod Khosla and other individual investors to continue work on its app  —  an SMS or voice system that encourages pre-surgery adherence. The app is currently used at Menlo Clinic and George Washington University. VentureBeat

Patient communication app TouchCare raised $4M to coincide with its official market release. The Durham, NC-based company offers an iOS-only app that allows patients to speak with doctors after hours as well as manage other needs including refilling prescriptions and reviewing test results. MedCity News

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