Raising a Series A as a healthtech founder isn’t about casting a wide net — it’s about precision, timing, and finding investors playing the long game. These firms aren’t just cutting checks, they believe in tech-driven healthcare and have the track records to back it up.
Here’s a breakdown of 5 firms worth knowing, what they’re backing, and how to make your first move count.
1. Coatue
Location: New York & Menlo Park
Thesis: Tech-first investing across public and private markets, in AI, data, and life sciences
Notable Health Bets: Komodo Health, Reify Health, Cadence Solutions
Why They Matter:
Coatue is quickly becoming a major force in healthtech. With a new $1B AI fund, they’re betting big on data. If you’re using machine learning to fix clinical workflows or make messy health data useful, you’re on their radar.
The Move:
Start with your tech stack; show how you’re rebuilding the way care happens, not just adding feature(s), but rethinking the workflow. Coatue’s team deeply respects technical founders who can ship real systems and prove they work in the wild.
2. General Catalyst
Location: Cambridge, MA & SF
Thesis: “Health assurance” through systemic, long-term change
Notable Health Bets: Maven Health, Commure, Helsing, Anduril
Why They Matter:
GC isn’t just investing in startups — they’re rewiring the U.S. healthcare system, backing companies that sit within hospital infrastructure, employer health, and consumer diagnostics.
The Move:
Position your startup within their “health assurance” ecosystem. Don’t just talk about your product — talk about the system it operates in, and how it aligns with long-term change.
3. Lux Capital
Location: New York & Menlo Park
Thesis: Betting on radical breakthroughs at the edge of science and tech
Notable Health Bets: Eikon Therapeutics, Auris Health, Kallyope
Why They Matter:
Lux backs founders solving hard science problems with world-shifting implications. If you’re building something that looks impossible to 90% of investors — Lux might be your 10%.
The Move:
Lead with the science. Lux loves a frontier thesis, especially if it’s tech-forward and comes with moonshot ambition. Brownie points if you’re a scientist-turned-founder.
4. Sequoia Capital
Location: Menlo Park
Thesis: Backing generational companies across sectors
Notable Health Bets: 23andMe, Guardant Health, BridgeBio
Why They Matter:
Sequoia’s conviction in healthtech has deepened in recent years. From diagnostics to AI in clinical trials, they’re leaning into the longevity of health as a category.
The Move:
Pitch your company, not just your product. Sequoia funds founders with massive vision, sticky business models, and a category-defining story. If your Series A is part of a 10-year roadmap, let that lead the conversation.
5. FirstMark Capital
Location: New York
Thesis: Infrastructure, AI, vertical SaaS – including healthcare
Notable Health Bets: Ro, Ezra, Roon
Why They Matter:
FirstMark has a strong track record in digital health, especially companies that blend tech and consumer experience — often with a mental health or care delivery angle.
The Move:
Tell a story of scaling. FirstMark prioritizes companies that can move fast and own a vertical. They’re also NY-based and value local relationships — don’t underestimate the power of a warm intro.
…How Do You Break In?
The modern healthtech Series A focuses on strategically training for a marathon, not a sprint.
- Start early. Build relationships 6-12 months before you plan to raise. Share updates (LinkedIn, newsletters, panels, the works). Ask questions. Get on [their] radar.
- Do your homework. Read the firm’s blog posts. Know which partner invests in healthtech. Personalize the pitch.
- Lead with insight, not ego. Your traction matters, but your understanding of the system — think: billing, procurement, incentives — matters more.
- Stay human. VCs are betting on you as much as your tech. Show clarity, conviction, and humility.
- Get support that scales. A strategic partner like T Palmer Agency can help sharpen your story, identify the right capital partners, and build visibility where it counts. You’re not just raising, you’re resonating with the market.
Raising a Series A in healthtech is about fit — not just funding. The firms above understand the regulatory complexity, slow sales cycles, and infrastructure challenges that come with tackling TAM in this space. If you’re building for impact, you need more than capital: you need partners who understand care delivery, decision dynamics, and system change.
👉 If you’re a healthtech founder en route to your Series A and want to make sure the right investors know & remember your story, drop us a note at suhana@tpalmeragency.com.
