Kaiser Permanente Ventures (KPV) thas closed its fifth investment fund at USD141 million, bringing the total assets under management to more than USD500 million.
This latest fund includes financial commitments from Kaiser Permanente and a diverse group of new and returning external strategic investors including Tufts Health Plan, Henry Ford Health System, and Highmark Ventures, a subsidiary of Highmark Health.
KPV Fund V will continue KPV’s focus on supporting the growth of innovative companies that are addressing some of the most important unmet needs in the health care system.
“We are in the midst of a tremendous opportunity as the US health care system transitions to value-based care,” says Chris Grant, executive vice president and chief operating officer, The Permanente Federation, and co-founder, KPV. “To succeed in this shift, and to help Kaiser Permanente advance its own efforts to deliver high-quality, accessible, and cost-effective care, we continue to find and fund the innovations and entrepreneurs that understand where the system is headed and that can enable its future success.”
The Permanente Federation is the national leadership and consulting organisation for the eight Permanente Medical Groups, which are composed of nearly 23,000 physicians who care for 12.2 million Kaiser Permanente members.
KPV invests in companies focused on health information technology, digital health, health care services, medical devices, diagnostics, and precision medicine. The team partners with entrepreneurs to advance solutions aligned with Kaiser Permanente’s focus on quality, affordable, and accessible health care. The firm has invested in more than 70 companies through its venture funds since the program’s inception in 1998.
KPV’s portfolio represents some of the most important innovations in health care delivery since it was founded 20 years ago. The KPV portfolio includes iRhythm (IRTC), an ambulatory cardiac monitoring company; Health Catalyst (HCST), an industry leader in health care analytics and outcomes improvement solutions; and Omada Health, the pioneer in digital health and behavioural change.
Sam Brasch, senior managing director, KPV, said the organisation has achieved success by taking the tremendous insights it derives from its deep engagement with Kaiser Permanente and investment partners, and applying those learnings to support entrepreneurs. By working closely as a conduit between Kaiser Permanente, its investment partners, and the innovation ecosystem, KPV has helped emerging companies better understand and build products and services that fulfil the actual needs of the health care system and the individual health care consumer.
“The success of Fund V underscores our proven ability to identify and meaningfully support entrepreneurs tackling the most pressing challenges facing the U.S. health care system,” says Brasch. “I’m excited by the opportunity to build on our successes as we look to advance innovations that improve health and health delivery in the United States.”
