Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Inflect Health, DEI from the start brings innovations and better outcomes to everyone.
Inflect Health is the Innovation hub of Vituity, a 45 year-old physician-led and owned partnership with over 4,000-plus physicians, business leaders and healthcare professionals. With a footprint that spans across 450 healthcare facilities in 23 states, Vituity’s physicians and advanced providers see and treat more than 8 million patients per year, with continued growth year over year. This breadth of clinical expertise and a national presence serves as a tremendous value add to healthcare tech startups, and positions Inflect Health as an ideal incubator for some startups in our portfolio.
For us, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have been a foundational pillar since inception. Diverse teams are more adept at solving problems and finding new approaches. Inclusive representation in the healthcare industry is an ongoing effort that makes a huge difference in patients’ experiences and outcomes.
That’s why over 60% of our current 2022 capital deployments and 50% of our overall capital layout have gone to companies or venture funds that are led by founders from underrepresented groups, and/or companies that address DEI issues in health equity. Seven of our 17 portfolio companies are led by women, and several more have women as co-founders or C-suite executives.
We’re not bragging so much as we are dismayed to see how far behind the tech startup industry lags. In venture capital, women-led startups receive just 2.3% of venture funding, and Black entrepreneurs receive only 1.2%. On the fund side, only 4% of investors are Black, 4% are Latinx, and 5% are women. In fact only 12% of venture funds even employ women in a decision-making capacity.
Two of our companies are firmly rooted in improving health equity outcomes. Seven Starling champions mothers in their postpartum journey. Mate is increasing LGBTQ+ access to fertility services in areas that have historically been care deserts. Other companies in our portfolio create technology and services that enable health systems to better serve their diverse populations.
Beyond our work as investors, our team members actively participate in efforts to improve healthcare equity. Vituity Cares is our parent company’s foundation that offers mentorship programs for students to grow into much-needed roles as medical professionals — MDs, DOs and PAs — in communities that have long lacked the doctors they should have.
We are driven by our mission, values, and culture to support optimal outcomes for you. Our mission at Inflect Health is “Healthcare. Optimized and accessible for all.” This requires improving diversity, equity and inclusion among those who provide healthcare, those who develop it, and those who receive it.
