Talking HealthTech

• 569 - Inside HealthTech Funding: What Investors Look for in Australian HealthTech Startups

  In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Josh Ayscough, Utiliti Group Partner, about investment in healthtech, navigating innovation in healthcare, and the different approaches to scaling health technology businesses in Australia and globally.They explore Josh Ayscough's background, the investment focus at Utiliti Group, and how founders can effectively pitch their healthtech solutions to investors and customers.The conversation also delves into the shift towards consumer-centric healthcare, the practical applications of AI, and the importance of building interdisciplinary teams.Listeners will gain insight into the challenges of funding, regulation, and scaling in the Australian health tech ecosystem, as well as strategies for forming partnerships and driving meaningful impact.This episode offers a comprehensive look at what it takes to innovate and succeed in a complex, evolving industry.Key Takeaways🧑‍💼 Founder-market fit is critical: Investors look for founders who deeply understand the problem they’re solving, ideally with sector experience or a strong advisory board.💸 Demonstrating clear patient or sector benefit is a priority for healthtech investors, not just the commercial proposition.🌏 Australia’s healthtech ecosystem is strong but highly regulated, compared to the “guardrails-off” landscape in markets like the US.🤖 AI isn’t mandatory for healthtech success, but founders need to articulate their position on AI and its relevance for their solution.🔗 Early-stage healthtech solutions should nail a core problem first, then build strategic partnerships to enhance growth, scaling globally is not always necessary, and local impact can also be a meaningful goal.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

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• 568 - Reducing the Hidden Tax on Healthcare: Real Solutions with AI and Technology

  In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Greg McDavitt, physician executive and director of healthcare industry strategy at ServiceNow, and Andrew Dome, Chief Digital Information Officer at Uniting New South Wales Act, about the "hidden tax" on healthcare.The discussion examines the non-financial burdens that affect efficiency and patient care, and how technology can help reduce administrative overhead.It also looks at the emerging role of artificial intelligence in streamlining workflows across healthcare organisations.The episode explores the practical challenges facing care providers and examines how technology can improve outcomes for both staff and patients.Key Takeaways🚀 The "hidden tax" in healthcare refers to the unrecognised administrative tasks that consume clinicians’ and care workers’ time, impacting their ability to focus on direct patient care.📱 Leveraging mobile tools and voice-to-text technology can save valuable minutes per day for frontline staff, enhancing both efficiency and quality of care.🤖 Technology is not always the solution; digitising poor processes can create more friction, but AI and better-designed systems hold the promise of fundamentally changing or removing burdensome workflows.🧑‍💼 A successful tech transition requires buy-in across all levels, from frontline workers to boards, and must be business-driven rather than solely led by IT.🔄 The adoption and role of artificial intelligence in healthcare is evolving rapidly; organisations must continuously review use cases, ethical boundaries, and investment rationale to harness AI effectively and responsibly.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

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• 567 - How Digital Health Is Reshaping Musculoskeletal Care in Australia and Beyond

  In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Jason Ward, co-founder and CEO of EQL, about the evolution of digital health in musculoskeletal (MSK) care across Australia and the UK. Jason discusses the story behind founding EQL and the factors that shaped its approach to digital MSK care. He also examines the different funding and access challenges faced in Australia and the UK, highlighting how local healthcare structures influence the delivery of care.Key Takeaways💡 EQL uses technology to empower patients and clinicians, enhancing access to MSK care through digital triage and rehabilitation pathways.🌏 Differences between the UK and Australian healthcare systems, including funding models, rural access issues, and workers’ compensation, shape how digital MSK solutions are deployed.📊 Demonstrating return on investment (ROI) is central to EQL’s model, evidenced by recent pilots in Australia that delivered a 14:1 ROI for employers and insurance partners.🤝 EQL works both with in-house clinicians and partner organisations, delivering care via digital, in-person, and hybrid pathways to meet diverse workplace and population needs.🔮 The future of digital MSK care involves careful adoption of AI and scaled technology, with a focus on safety, sustainability, and equitable access, especially in remote or underserved communities.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

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• 566 - Balancing Technology and Human Touch: Delivering Better Outcomes for Patients and Clinicians

  In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Mecaela Couper, specialist solution consultant for healthcare, Colby Rook, senior account executive for healthcare, and Dr Greg McDavitt, physician executive and director for healthcare, all from ServiceNow.The discussion covers the role of artificial intelligence and technology in reducing administrative burden for clinicians, improving patient outcomes, and optimising workflows within the healthcare sector.The episode explores the intersection of digital transformation and the unique human elements that are central to effective healthcare delivery, based on insights from both clinical and technology backgrounds.Key Takeaways💡 The critical importance of freeing clinicians from administrative tasks to allow more time for patient care and improving outcomes.🖥️ Effective digital transformation in healthcare is often "invisible" to the patient, improving systems and processes behind the scenes rather than at the point of care.🤝 Co-designing technology solutions with frontline clinicians and gathering feedback ensures tools are genuinely useful and easy to adopt in practice.🔒 Implementing strong governance and risk management around AI tools is vital, including controlling access and monitoring data privacy.🔄 Transformation efforts should be holistic, considering impacts across the whole healthcare ecosystem, from frontline staff to back-office operations and the broader continuum of care.Check out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it. Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

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• 565 - Leading Change in Healthcare: Women’s Health, Ethics, and Inclusive Innovation at HIC 2025

  In this episode of Talking HealthTech, Peter Birch speaks with Dr Ramya Raman, Rafiah Ansari, Andrew Aho, and Farhoud Salimi about the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in digital health.Topics covered include clinical governance, digital health ethics, women’s health data, interoperability, AI, connected care, and the importance of partnerships across healthcare and technology.This episode was recorded during HIC 2025, hosted by the Australasian Institute of Digital Health (AIDH) in Melbourne.It features conversations captured in the Digital Health Studio throughout the event, covering panels, keynotes, and interview sessions with innovators and leaders from across the healthcare technology space.Key Takeaways✨ Clinical governance, ethics, and research translation are critical for driving sustainable digital health innovation🌏 Global perspectives (UK, Canada, US) offer lessons for local implementations in Australia🧑‍⚕️ Women’s health data has historical biases; femtech and digital health can help address gaps for diverse populations🔗 Connected care depends on interoperability, collaboration, and data standards to support clinicians and improve patient outcomes🤖 Artificial intelligence and unified data platforms are expanding capabilities but require strong privacy, governance, and clinician involvementCheck out the episode and full show notes on the Talking HealthTech website.Loving the show? Leave us a review, and share it with someone who might get some value from it.Keen to take your healthtech to the next level? Become a THT+ Member for access to our online community forum, meet-ups, special offers and more exclusive content. For more information, visit talkinghealthtech.com/thtplus

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