UnityPoint Health Launches $100M Venture Fund
UnityPoint Health Ventures will invest in startup companies in digital health, medical devices, therapeutic and healthcare services sectors.
DES MOINES, IOWA (May 23, 2019)— In support of its strategic priority to drive innovation in health care, UnityPoint Health, an industry leader in the Midwest, has announced the launch of its $100 million UnityPoint Health Ventures Innovation Fund to manage and direct the health system’s financial and strategic investment opportunities. The new fund will invest in early stage growth companies in four key areas:
- Digital health
- Medical devices
- Therapeutic spaces
- Healthcare services
“UnityPoint Health Ventures provides a platform for our clinical and operational leaders, who are some of the most knowledgeable and innovative individuals in the industry, to lend expertise to early stage companies seeking to revolutionize care delivery and experience,” said Matthew Warrens, managing director of innovations, UnityPoint Health Ventures. “By establishing this fund, we can leverage our experience, institutional expertise and solid investment track record to dramatically accelerate the growth for our portfolio companies and boost our own access to advanced health care solutions.”
UnityPoint Health Ventures will connect clinical and operational leaders throughout the health system with industry entrepreneurs to test and scale solutions that seek to lower health care costs, improve quality of care and positively impact population health initiatives. Inventive startup companies will benefit from access to the health system’s deep pool of resources and UnityPoint Health will gain access to companies that can provide solutions to help the organization drive sustainability, growth and success in value-based care.
UnityPoint Health Ventures is led by Kent Lehr, vice president of strategy and business development, and Warrens. “This fund will help maximize the impact and value of our Innovation Center which encourages employees to identify processes within the health system that could operate better or more efficiently. Some of our investments will go to companies with products that can help us address challenges submitted by our employees,” said Lehr. “Our strategic investments will seek to provide UnityPoint Health with collaborative solutions to make the patient experience easier and more personal.”
UnityPoint Health Ventures is funded through a reallocation of funds already earmarked for investment and receives no funding from operations. It represents 5% of the health system’s overall investment portfolio and will introduce a more structured and targeted focus for its innovation investments.
About UnityPoint Health
UnityPoint Health is one of the nation’s most integrated health systems. Through relationships with more than 280 physician clinics, 32 hospitals in metropolitan and rural communities and home care services throughout its 9 regions, UnityPoint Health provides care throughout Iowa, western Illinois and southern Wisconsin. UnityPoint Health entities employ more than 32,000 team members working toward innovative advancements to become the Midwest’s premier health system known for redesigning the health care experience. For more information visit unitypointhealth.org.
