Candace Richardson, Principal at General Catalyst, has years of experience at the helm of healthcare investment. Her interrogation of startup founders often offers a distinctive perceptive on their goals and intentions. At a recent HLTH event, she shed light on three recurrent questions she typically asks startup pioneers.
- What does success look like to you?
Richardson believes the answer to this open-ended question is quite revealing and offers insight into the motivations of the founder. Her interest is primarily in firms that intersect financial and societal returns, meaning, on top of robust financial performance, they aim to bring positive impact to the lives of many.”
- Is Medicaid on your roadmap?
Due to a notable absence of innovation in the Medicaid space, Richardson is keen on companies willing to dare this space. She argues that regulations and lower reimbursement rates should not deter startups from serving this population. She references Cityblock Health, an early investment by General Catalyst, as a case showing that scaling innovation in the Medicaid space is possible.
- Does your model work for everyone?
Equity in health is a key interest for Richardson. She often inquires about startups’ data stratification across different populations. Her aim is to check if companies can assure quality care across the entire population. She sees data stratification as a powerful tool for their customers considering it is a priority to employers, payers, and health systems.
The full article offers a more detailed look into Richardson’s unique investment outlook and strategies enabling General Catalyst to pinpoint exceptional startups innovating how healthcare is delivered.