In a captivating presentation at LSI Europe '24, Alan Cohen, General Partner at DCVC, unveiled his vision for the emerging "techmed movement"—a transformative approach to healthcare that leverages deep tech innovation. Cohen's journey from tech industry veteran to healthcare innovator offers valuable insights for medtech entrepreneurs and investors alike.

From Tech Titan to Healthcare Visionary

Cohen's career trajectory is a testament to the power of cross-industry pollination. With nearly three decades in the tech sector, including pivotal roles at IBM and Cisco, he brings a unique perspective to the medtech landscape. Reflecting on his experience, Cohen stated, "It is much easier to build a business if you're satisfying demand versus creating demand." This insight shaped his approach to healthcare innovation, emphasizing the importance of understanding market needs.

His transition to healthcare was deeply personal, sparked by his father's glioblastoma diagnosis in 2016. This life-changing event prompted him to reevaluate his career and seek more impactful work. "On the bridge to mortality, you just put a bullet in my career," Cohen recalled, acknowledging how this experience forced him to consider where he could make a more significant societal impact.

The Birth of the Techmed Movement

Cohen describes the techmed movement as a "speciation event," where new approaches emerge from traditional medtech. It focuses on integrating advanced technologies—such as sensors, machine learning, and proprietary data sets—to enhance clinical interactions and improve patient outcomes. "Techmed is emerging out of medtech. It's not something completely different, but it starts with a different focus," Cohen explained.

Defining Techmed

At its core, the techmed movement is about leveraging technology to create better healthcare solutions. Cohen elaborated on this concept: "It's when an array of new technologies—not all of them brand new—come together to provide the medical establishment skills and capabilities to perform highly relevant clinical interactions." This shift in focus allows innovators to start with technology and adapt it to meet medical needs rather than searching for technology to solve existing problems.

The Deep Tech Advantage

Central to the techmed movement is DCVC's deep tech investment thesis. Cohen and his team seek passionate entrepreneurs who bring computational advantages to scientific or technological sectors, addressing trillion-dollar problems. He emphasized that their focus is on "providing a level of human enablement," aiming to give professionals "superpowers" that enhance their effectiveness.

Cohen shared several examples of how deep tech is being applied in healthcare:

These examples illustrate how techmed companies are bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical medical applications.

AI in Healthcare: Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the transformative potential of AI in healthcare, Cohen highlighted a concerning trend: slower adoption compared to other industries. He noted, "AI adoption is slow in an industry that, frankly, is dramatically more important." This gap presents both challenges and opportunities for medtech innovators.

Cohen emphasized the need for smart application of AI in healthcare, focusing on areas such as:

• Pathology diagnosis through computer vision
• Digital therapeutics
• Patient engagement and adherence

He believes that applying AI effectively can lead to significant advancements in patient care and outcomes.

The Future of the Techmed Movement

As the techmed movement gains momentum, Cohen envisions a healthcare landscape transformed by deep tech innovation. He predicts that the fusion of hardware and software will drive the next wave of medical breakthroughs. "We look for passionate entrepreneurs that are bringing a computational advantage, providing an enormous amount of leverage," he stated.

Cohen's vision for the future emphasizes democratizing access to healthcare through innovative technologies that empower both patients and providers. He passionately advocates for using advanced tools not just for efficiency but also for enhancing patient care quality.

Conclusion: Embracing the Techmed Revolution

The techmed movement represents a paradigm shift in healthcare innovation, blending Silicon Valley's tech prowess with medical expertise. As Alan Cohen's journey illustrates, this cross-pollination of ideas has the potential to democratize healthcare access and dramatically improve patient outcomes.

For medtech entrepreneurs and investors, embracing the techmed movement means starting with technology and working backward to medical applications rather than seeking technological solutions for known medical problems. As Cohen aptly concluded during his presentation, "When you think about what we can do with technology in medicine today, we are just scratching the surface."

As the industry gathers at events like LSI Europe, the techmed movement stands poised to reshape the future of healthcare. By harnessing deep tech innovation and focusing on real-world applications, we can look forward to an era where groundbreaking advancements truly put patients first.

The full recording of the panel can be found in LSI’s resource hub at the link below:

• The Techmed Movement Has Arrived

To hear more insights like this, join hundreds of executives at LSI Europe ‘25 at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London from September 7th to 11th, 2025.