HealthStack Brief - Issue #1
Welcome to the first HealthStack Brief. Each week I'll pull together the most important European health-tech news into a skimmable read for founders, operators and investors building in health and human performance.
This week's big theme
AI systems for health continue to dominate global news this week. Amazon launched Health Connect, Tandem Health announced a shift towards an AI medical assistant, and Heidi Health acquired UK startup AutoMedical to do the same.
With platforms like Proximie's Intelligence Suite and Tetra's AI for surgery scheduling gathering pace, it's clear that AI is going to be touching every part of our healthcare journey in the next few years. The robots are coming... (again)
This week in the news
Healf named #1 fastest growing company
The UK wellbeing platform has surpassed £100m annualised run rate and topped the FT fastest growing list. (healf.com)
Why it matters: Consumer demand for preventative health is real and accelerating. Healf is proof that a well-positioned platform can scale fast without huge amounts of VC funding
Oura acquires DoublePoint
Oura acquired Swedish gesture control startup DoublePoint, continuing the shift towards wearables becoming more deeply integrated into daily life. (Oura)
Why it matters: Oura is building towards an always-on interaction layer, not just a health tracker. The acquisition signals that wearables are about to become much more integrated.
Healf partners with Incentifi
Fresh off their FT ranking, Healf announced a partnership with workplace rewards startup Incentifi. (FiitInsider)
Why it matters: Employer-funded health is becoming a real distribution channel. Worth watching how this model develops across other consumer health platforms.
Lucis launches London events
French longevity platform Lucis continues its London push with 'Outlive', a week of curated events spanning contrast therapy to bloodwork sessions at some of the capital's most exclusive health venues. (LinkedIn)
Why it matters: More evidence that community and in-person moments are becoming a real acquisition channel for health platforms targeting high-intent consumers.
Third Space moves into small group PT?
This week Third Space advertised for personal trainers to run 12-week strength-focused training blocks - are they about to start putting smaller boutiques out of business? (Observed on LinkedIn)
Why it matters: If Third Space moves seriously into structured strength programming within the same membership structure smaller operators will feel it. One to watch.
Investment updates
RoxFit, $1.9m pre-seed - AI training platform RoxFit raised to continue scaling its Hyrox coaching product. Ex-Runna founders and a sport with huge momentum - a no brainer for investors? (uktechnews)
YOU(TH), $4.5m - Berlin-based YOU(TH) raised again with a bold vision to unlock preventative health for anyone with a smartphone. One of the most interesting diagnostics plays in Europe right now. (techfundingnews)
Eight Sleep, $50m at $1.5b - Eight Sleep raised again to accelerate product innovation, scale internationally, and advance clinical-grade validation of its AI-driven sleep platform. (techcrunch)
The coolest jobs in health-tech
Flok Health - Product Software Engineers - Flok Health is building the world's first AI physiotherapy clinic and is looking for engineers at all levels to join its team - a super cool role for any Cambridge based engineers with experience of Typescript & Python
Proximie - Staff Quality Engineer - Proximie - is building an OS layer for intelligent operating rooms and is hiring a Staff Quality Engineer. Reporting to Head of QA Mauricio this role is perfect for somebody who is crazy about Quality Engineering
Partnerships Lead - Heidi Health - Heidi is on a global mission to build the future of healthcare with its AI Care Partner. Founded in Australia this role will be responsible for scaling through partnerships in the UK and Ireland.
Health Stack Podcast
The podcast lands next Tuesday 17th March. First up, Matt and Ryan, founders of SPORTL, fresh off their own launch. The timing couldn't be better.
Preview the launch trailer here:
That's it for Issue #1.
If you found this useful, forward it to one founder or investor in your network who'd get value from it. And reply with anything you'd like to see more of. I read every response.
