Global Digital Health Funding H1 2023:

In H1, funding for Digital Health reached $10.7B which is lower than the amount raised in Q4 2021, where a total of 15.7B was invested. Funding deployment has remained nearly stable for the third consecutive quarter, indicating that we may have reached a bottom.

Taking a closer look at the quarterly trends of significant regional ecosystems, we can observe that venture funding in North America has experienced a 5% decline, amounting to $4.0B. This trend can be mainly attributed to the persistent absence of mega deals, which are venture deals that exceed $100M. In the first half of 2023, only 20 mega deals were recorded, which is a relatively low number compared to previous years. This decline in mega deals has had a significant impact on the overall venture funding landscape in North America.

The funding landscape in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has been relatively slow in recent times. In the first half of 2023, only $816M was raised, which is significantly lower than previous years where more than $6.0B of funding were raised. The lack of funding in Digital Health in China and India has been identified as a key driver of the slow funding in the region. This is a particularly concerning trend as APAC remains one of the most significant regions for Digital Health innovation.

Despite the series of high-profile bankruptcies that occurred in the first half of 2023, the global appetite for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in Digital Health remains strong, albeit slightly lower than the previous two half-years. In the first half of 2023, a total of 84 M&A activities were disclosed, which is an 18% decrease compared to the same period last year. This current dip in M&A activity could potentially be attributed to the uncertainty and volatility in the global economic landscape.

However, it’s worth noting that venture-to-venture acquisitions still remain the most prominent exit activity, accounting for approximately 27% of all M&A activities. This highlights the continued interest of established startups in acquiring promising young companies or struggling competitors to expand their portfolio and market reach. Despite the dip in M&A activity, the overall trend suggests that investors and established companies still view M&A as a viable strategy for growth and expansion in the startup ecosystem.

In the first half of 2023, Health Management Solutions has emerged as the leading cluster in terms of venture funding, thanks to a recent $260.0M Series F investment in Aledade. This impressive funding has propelled Health Management Solutions from the fourth spot in 2022 to the top position, with a total of $1.8B in funding. Following closely behind is Research Solutions, which secured the second-place spot with a substantial amount of funding. Meanwhile, Neumora Therapeutics was able to raise $474.0M in a Series C funding round, putting them in third place.

It’s worth noting that the top three funded clusters represented nearly half of the total value invested in H1 2023. This was largely due to the significant Mega Deals that took place during this period, which helped to boost the overall investment in these clusters. Overall, it’s been an exciting and fruitful first half of the year for the top-funded clusters in the venture funding landscape.

Neurology emerged as the front-runner among therapeutic areas, raising $1.2B in the first 6 months, driven by a strong Q1 where $814.0M were disclosed. After a weak first quarter with only $181.0M for Oncology ventures, the second quarter saw a pickup in funding activity, closing the half year at $646.0M on the fourth position behind Mental Health and Nephrology.

About 60% of the total funding in the first half was deployed in ventures with clear defined therapeutic focus. This value share continues to increase with investors targeting more specialized ventures.

As investors look for more clinically validated ventures  Venture founders and CxOs must be prepared to make tough decisions — cut costs and pivot business models, if necessary. They should prioritise sustainability and profitability over growth. Investors should focus on venture proof points, such as Clinical Evidence, which demonstrate a proven track record and are well-positioned to weather the storm. Ultimately, venture founders, CxOs and investors alike need to brace for a rough year ahead.