Episodi

  • Why Investors Don’t Trust Your Numbers and How to Fix It with Emily Stubbs

    Why Investors Don’t Trust Your Numbers and How to Fix It with Emily Stubbs
    Jan 21 2026

    In this sharp and strategy-rich episode, I sit down with Emily Stubbs, a legal expert turned Visibility CFO—to unpack the real reasons many visionary founders struggle with growth, margins, and funding readiness.


    Emily shares why popularity doesn’t equal profitability and how vague P&Ls are killing your ability to scale.


    You’ll learn why segmentation in your finances isn't optional, how to spot when a service is a loss leader, and why having the right people and structure trumps having more people.

    If you're a founder trying to grow sustainably, attract outside capital, or prepare for investor conversations, this episode is packed with game-changing insights you can’t afford to miss.


    What You'll Learn in This Episode:

    ✅ How to identify what’s actually driving (or draining) your margin

    ✅ The power of segmented P&Ls and strategic visibility

    ✅ What most leaders misunderstand about AI, operations, and capacity

    ✅ Why founders must redefine what "working" looks like before scaling

    ✅ When to leverage fractional experts (like CFOs and growth strategists)

    ✅ How to stage your company for funding the way you’d stage a home for sale


    ✅ Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?

    Here are 3 ways we can help you today:

    🎤 Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge

    Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina

    📊 Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready

    Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com

    🚀 Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built

    Not every investor needs a white paper, they need a reason to believe. At CapitalEngine.vc, we match you with aligned capital so your traction gets traction.
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    32 min
  • Why Investors Hesitate Before Saying Yes in Femtech with Maria De Santis

    Why Investors Hesitate Before Saying Yes in Femtech with Maria De Santis
    Jan 16 2026

    Most founders chase funding.

    The smart ones chase strategic capital.

    In this episode, Maria De Santis reveals what separates a check from a true growth partnership—and how women founders can position themselves for both traction and investment in today’s market.

    You’ll hear how we both connected around the real-world challenges founders face, especially those underrepresented in venture conversations.

    It’s a vulnerable and powerful dialogue on being intentional about who’s in your corner.

    In this episode, you’ll learn:

    ♦️ Why team dynamics matter more than product features in investor decisions

    ♦️ How to master one revenue channel before diversifying

    ♦️ The truth about today’s tougher VC environment—and how to stand out

    ♦️ What makes a funding partner strategic, not just transactional

    ♦️ How to use your capital wisely and avoid costly mistakes

    ♦️ Tips on building a real support network that can guide execution and scaling


    Timestamp:

    00:00:55 – Welcome to Provider's Edge Podcast

    00:02:52 – The women founders funding gap: Less than 3% of VC capital

    00:03:28 – Key factors investors look for: Team expertise and market opportunity

    00:04:51 – Team dynamics: Why business partnerships are tougher than marriage

    00:06:49 – Customer acquisition costs: A major reason startups fail

    00:08:12 – Revenue diversification strategy: When and how to expand channels

    00:10:46 – Current fundraising environment: How the market shifted from 2021 to 2024

    00:11:43 – The strategic investor advantage: Beyond just capital

    00:13:36 – Best practices for approaching investors: Warm introductions vs. cold outreach

    00:15:02 – The relationship-based investment game: Building long-term connections

    00:16:53 – Investing in women's health: Economic opportunity meets social impact

    00:18:11 – Episode wrap-up and final thanks


    🎧 Related Episodes You’ll Love


    Ep 130- Why Most HealthTech Solutions Fail: The Hidden Gap Between Innovation and Implementation – This episode digs into the common pitfalls that healthtech founders face (particularly in scaling and market fit).


    Ep 154- Is Your Startup Built on Swiss Cheese? with George Pappas – A strong fit because it explores structural weaknesses in startups (teams, roles, funding) that align directly with what we unpacked with MyPhuong.


    Ep 177- What Traction Signals Investors Say Yes To – Especially relevant for founders looking for their first backers, this episode zeroes in on what investors are actually looking for.

    ✅ Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?

    Here are 3 ways we can help you today:

    🎤 Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge

    Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina

    📊 Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready

    Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com

    🚀 Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built

    Apply for a contestant spot at PulsePointPath.com/Pitch-Application and pitch to active investors and decision-makers in your niche.
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    25 min
  • Why Do So Many HealthTech Startups Stall After Early Traction with Dirk Schaparel

    Why Do So Many HealthTech Startups Stall After Early Traction with Dirk Schaparel
    Jan 7 2026
    Why do so many healthtech startups gain early traction… and then suddenly stall?It’s usually not the tech. It’s not the vision. And it’s rarely a lack of effort.In this episode, I’m joined by Dirk Schapeler, President of Niterra Ventures—the venture arm of Niterra, a $5B Japanese technology company operating globally across automotive, medical, and industrial products. Dirk also serves as a board member at Arcondis Group, where he supports innovation strategy and global expansion. At HLTH, I sat down with Dirk to talk about what actually determines whether a healthcare company survives long enough to matter—especially in regulated, capital-intensive spaces like medtech, remote care, and diagnostics.If you’ve proven demand but growth feels harder than it should, this conversation is for you.This wasn’t a hype-filled conversation about AI buzzwords.It was a grounded discussion about patience, leadership evolution, and why healthcare scale is less about speed and more about systems, people, and partnerships.If you’re building in healthcare and wondering why momentum feels harder than it should… this episode will hit close to home.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:Why some of the most powerful healthcare innovations come from outside healthcareWhat investors really look for when regulation and reimbursement are unavoidableHow to think about unmet need vs. “interesting” ideas that won’t scaleWhy leadership evolution, not just vision, determines whether companies break through growth ceilingsHow combining technologies and partners creates defensibility most startups missWhat founders underestimate about human capital in regulated marketsEpisode Timeline:00:00:00 – Why health tech stalls after early wins00:04:04 – Why Japanese innovation looks at the U.S. market00:07:02 – Cold plasma and the future of wound care00:09:40 – Why wound care hasn’t changed in decades00:11:27 – Combining therapies, not selling tools00:13:05 – What investors really look for00:15:31 – Patience, quality, and long-term thinking00:18:08 – When founders hit the scaling wall00:21:09 – Power of global collaboration00:25:00 – The hard truth about regulated healthcare00:27:03 – How to connect with Niterra Ventures🎧 Related Episodes You’ll LoveWhy Most HealthTech Solutions Fail: The Hidden Gap Between Innovation and Implementation – This episode digs into the common pitfalls that healthtech founders face (particularly in scaling and market fit).Is Your Startup Built on Swiss Cheese? with George Pappas – A strong fit because it explores structural weaknesses in startups (teams, roles, funding) that align directly with what we unpacked with MyPhuong.What Traction Signals Investors Say Yes To – Especially relevant for founders looking for their first backers, this episode zeroes in on what investors are actually looking for.Want to Keep Growing Without Worrying About Your Runway?Here are 3 ways we can help you today:🎤 Earn Your HealthTech Impact Award Are you creating significant impact in digital health, diagnostics, med devices, biotech, mental health or women's health space? If so, nominate your company for the 2026 HealthTech Impact Award today at HealthTechImpactAward.com📊 Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com 🚀 Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve BuiltNot every investor needs a white paper, they need a reason to believe. At CapitalEngine.vc, we match you with aligned capital so your traction gets traction.
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    32 min
  • Why Sports & Health Tech Founders Miss Their Next Round

    Why Sports & Health Tech Founders Miss Their Next Round
    Dec 31 2025

    How do top investors decide where to put their millions?


    Hint: It’s not just about your pitch deck.


    Raising capital isn’t just about vision—it’s about proving you have the team, traction, and exit potential to make your venture worth the risk.


    Thomas Rudy has reviewed over 1,500 startups a year, and in this episode, he reveals what separates the YESes from the NOs.


    If you've ever felt unsure whether you’re “venture-backable,” this episode will help you reflect on the gaps holding you back—and give you the clarity to fill them with confidence.


    You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to position your company for investor alignment—from defining scalability the VC way, to building a team that de-risks execution, to reverse engineering your exit potential.


    Most startups VCs pass on aren’t bad—they just aren’t venture-scale. In this candid conversation, you’ll learn how to be brutally honest about where your startup stands and what to do next.


    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    ✔️ What VCs really mean when they say “you’re not scalable yet”

    ✔️ The critical difference between strategic board titles vs execution-ready teams

    ✔️ Why having “80% of funds go to tech” isn’t enough—and what to say instead

    ✔️ How to reverse engineer your exit using revenue, EBITDA, and industry multiples

    ✔️ Why some founders should skip VC entirely—and still win big


    Related Episodes You’ll Love


    Why Most HealthTech Solutions Fail: The Hidden Gap Between Innovation and Implementation – This episode digs into the common pitfalls that healthtech founders face (particularly in scaling and market fit).


    Is Your Startup Built on Swiss Cheese? with George Pappas – A strong fit because it explores structural weaknesses in startups (teams, roles, funding) that align directly with what we unpacked with MyPhuong.


    What Traction Signals Investors Say Yes To – Especially relevant for founders looking for their first backers, this episode zeroes in on what investors are actually looking for.


    Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?


    Here are 3 ways we can help you today:


    Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge


    Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina


    Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready


    Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com


    Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built


    Apply for a contestant spot at 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Pitch-Application and pitch to active investors and decision-makers in your niche.
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    33 min
  • How Smart Founders Raise Capital Without a Final Product

    How Smart Founders Raise Capital Without a Final Product
    Dec 24 2025
    If you’re a femtech founder building in silence and still waiting for real traction—this episode is your wake-up call. The funding isn’t always the problem. It’s the missing ecosystem.Dr. MyPhuong Le went from struggling in academic research to co-founding a manufacturing company and now leads a thriving innovation hub in San Diego.Together, we unpacked what early-stage founders really need beyond funding: role clarity, uncomfortable conversations, and teams that align in mission—not just skillsets.You’ll hear how women founders in health tech are hitting investor roadblocks—not because of poor solutions, but because too many rooms still treat menstrual health and menopause like taboo topics. MyPhuong shares how breaking that silence can shift capital, culture, and credibility.In this episode, you’ll learn:🔶 Why building alone is one of the most dangerous things founders can do🔶 What roles truly matter in your founding team (hint: it’s not just tech)🔶 How femtech founders can win support—even when investors are uncomfortable🔶 Why diverse voices in health tech are finally gaining traction, and how to be part of it🔶 A 3-part co-founder framework to scale without burning outDr. MyPhuong Le will be hosting the Global Innovation in Women’s Health Pitch Showcase 2026, with Sabrina Runbeck serving as a judge—especially for founders heading to JPM 2026. This in-person event brings together innovators, investors, and leaders advancing women’s health.📅 January 12, 2026 | 1:30–8:00 PM PST📍 The Women’s Building, San Francisco, CA🎟 Exclusive listener offer: Get 20% off registrationUse code WMNSHLTH20Register here: 👉 https://eventship.com/event/01-12-26-global-innovation-in-women-s-health-pitch-showcaseLearn more about the agenda: 👉 https://www.aquillius.com/event/global-innovation-in-womens-health-pitch-showcaseTimestamps:00:04:07 – Dr. MyPhuong Le's journey: From PhD scientist to venture builder 00:07:16 – Breaking down silos: Why scientists, engineers, and software teams must collaborate 00:09:40 – The team commitment problem: Big names vs. real integration 00:14:32 – Why technical founders aren't trained to run businesses 00:17:06 – The three essential roles: Visionary, operator, and promoter 00:18:39 – Women's health funding: Breaking through uncomfortable conversations 00:20:23 – Why women's health matters: Supporting the whole family ecosystem 00:24:38 – The founder trap: When you stop doing what you love 00:28:20 – 10x is easier than 2x: Building sustainable foundations from day one 00:30:01 – E-Myth principle: Employee vs. stakeholder vs. manager mindset 00:31:40 – Aquillius funding focus: Pre-seed and seed stage companies 00:32:21 – Why physical innovation hubs matter for hardware startups00:35:41 – Final thoughts and key takeaways of the episodeWant to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?Here are 3 ways we can help you today:Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s EdgeHave traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina Make Your Pitch Investor-ReadySend us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com Win the Award and Showcase Your ImpactNominate a spot at 👉 HealthTechImpactAward.com and win multiple media placements, investor introductions, and advisory support for your scalability.Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve BuiltComing to JPM? Pitch to active investors and decision-makers for the Women’s Health Pitch Showcase Share this coupon code: WMNSHLTH20 • Visit the registration link: 👉 https://eventship.com/event/01-12-26-global-innovation-in-women-s-health-pitch-showcase• They will sign in or create an account with Eventship. • They can select the General Admission ticket type to avail the discount. • Attached is a flyer that you can share with your community and post on your social media accounts. We are excited to welcome you to the Global
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    43 min
  • The Red Flag That Kills Your Raise with Aparajita Chauhan

    The Red Flag That Kills Your Raise with Aparajita Chauhan
    Dec 17 2025

    Candid insights. Tactical advice. Real talk on what investors actually look for.


    Too many brilliant women-led startups struggle to get noticed by VCs.


    It’s not always about your product—it’s about how you position, present, and prove your traction.


    In this episode, I sat down with Aparajita Chauhan, investor at Volition Capital, to talk about what makes a founder investable—before they even start raising.


    From decoding due diligence to how your leadership team communicates under pressure, we unpacked what founders need to know to build trust and stay on an investor’s radar.


    What You’ll Learn:


    ✅ What investors like Aparajita actually want to see before a pitch deck


    ✅ The #1 thing that gets founders remembered (hint: it’s not flashy branding)


    ✅ How to talk about your CAC, KPIs, and ROI with clarity—not guesswork


    ✅ Why founder-team alignment can make or break your deal


    ✅ How to build relationships with investors early—even if you're not raising yet


    ✅ Where women founders still face the biggest barriers (and how to navigate them)


    Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?


    Here are 3 ways we can help you today:


    Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge


    Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina


    Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready


    Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com


    Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built


    Not every investor needs a white paper, they need a reason to believe.


    At 👉 CapitalEngine.vc, we match you with aligned capital so your traction gets traction.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    20 min
  • E183 | Why Most AI Startups Fail | Real Talk with Investors from US, EU, LATAM & MENA

    E183 | Why Most AI Startups Fail | Real Talk with Investors from US, EU, LATAM & MENA
    Dec 10 2025
    Let’s be honest—founders are burned out from cold outreach and investor ghosting.You’ve built something real, but the right people just aren’t seeing it.What if the fastest path to capital was through vetted relationships that already believe in your mission?This isn’t your typical panel.You’re about to sit in on a private investor roundtable from Venture Vitality, a global gathering hosted by PulsePoint Path and our venture partners.In the room: seed and Series A investors, Medicaid fund managers, consumer health VCs, quantum & AI fund builders, FDA-cleared founders, LATAM commercialization experts, and healthcare operators with international scale.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on how startup capital is actually getting deployed in 2025 and what investors are really looking for in a noisy, AI-saturated market. ✅ Why “trust-first” deal flow is outperforming cold pitches ✅ How to make your startup defensible when AI can copy you in weeks ✅ What funders like DFX, Equal Opportunity Ventures, and Angel Squad are doing differently ✅ How to leverage Health Board Advisor’s global ecosystem to access capital and credibility ✅ Where women and diverse founders are finally being prioritized—and funded ✅ Why domain expertise is the new power play in healthcare AITimestamps:02:22 – Inside the Venture Vitality Investor Roundtable02:54 – What Differentiation Really Means in an AI-Crowded Market04:22 – Domain Expertise as the #1 Success Factor05:37 – The Real ICP & Minimal Sellable Product Problem07:26 – Why Startups Must Go Narrow + Deep (Not Wide + Shallow)08:32 – AI, Regulation, and Ethics: The New Founder Blind Spots10:44 – Know What You Don’t Know (Avoiding FDA & Reimbursement Pitfalls)12:13 – Business Models, Workflow Integration & Real User Adoption13:41 – The 3 Pillars Every Health Startup Must Nail15:17 – Solving Real Problems vs. Building Cool Tech15:52 – Quantum’s Coming Impact on Healthcare Innovation19:23 – Key Takeaways from the DiscussionRelated Episodes You’ll LoveWhy Founders Fail When They Ignore This with Monica McKitterickFrom Implementation to Optimization: Never Lose a Client Again Ep 170 with Sandra JohnsonHow AgeTech Startups Win Hospital Trust With Wound-Care Pilots Ep 169 with Amy CassataHere are 3 ways we can support you right now:Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s EdgeHave traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Call-SabrinaReady to turn your pitch into a magnet? Send us your draft, let me rewrite it for you 👉 PitchToYes.comGet You In Front of InvestorsWe match you with the most aligned investors and decision-makers who care about your niche already. Apply at 👉 CapitalEngine.vc
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    23 min
  • How to Build AI Clinicians Trust and Teams Stick With Linda Macomber

    How to Build AI Clinicians Trust and Teams Stick With Linda Macomber
    Nov 27 2025

    AI won't win in healthcare unless clinicians—and patients—trust it.


    In this episode, I sat down with healthcare innovation expert Linda Macomber, who’s been at the forefront of digital transformation for over 35 years, leading initiatives with Kaiser, IBM, and the VA.


    Her message is clear: your tech isn’t the hero—the human insight behind it is.


    Learn What You’ll Discover:

    🔹 Why AI is not a revolution—but a renaissance that blends human wisdom with digital intelligence

    🔹 The biggest mistakes founders make when building in silos (and how to fix it)

    🔹 What it really means to deliver personalized care and distributed access

    🔹 How to rethink your solution as part of a broader care pathway—not just a point product

    🔹 The one mindset shift every founder needs to go from “protocols” to people-powered innovation


    Related Episodes You’ll Love

    How to Spot HealthTech Startups That Prevent Costly Readmissions — With Dr. Colin Banas. This one digs into how systems connect (interoperability, workflow gaps) and why tech alone isn’t enough.


    Tech Equity Is the Missing Link in Health Equity with Bevey Miner Ep 151— A powerful fit for founders dealing with data, bias, AI and ecosystem context.


    Nurse Entrepreneur: A Founder's Perspective with Susan Davis, Ep 114 — An episode that appears to focus on nursing, workflow, informatics and front‑line care systems. Since Linda brings a nursing + informatics background, this is a strong anchor for themes of clinical trust and integration.


    Apple Podcasts: Your Tech Isn’t Failing—Your Compliance Strategy Is (Ep 148)

    YouTube: Scaling Smart: How Founders Protect Their Burn Rate (Ep 162)

    SabrinaRunbeck.com Blog: The 5D System to Build Sustainable HealthTech Growth


    Want to Keep Growing Without Losing Clients?


    Here are 3 ways we can help you today:


    Be a Featured Guest on the Provider’s Edge


    Have traction and a story to share? Apply to join us on the show: 👉 PulsePointPath.com/Call-Sabrina


    Make Your Pitch Investor-Ready


    Send us your draft and let me rewrite it so it becomes a funding magnet 👉 PitchToYes.com


    Get in Front of Investors Who Already Want What You’ve Built


    Not every investor needs a white paper, they need a reason to believe. At 👉 CapitalEngine.vc, we match you with aligned capital so your traction gets traction.
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    33 min