Hexa Expands into Health Vertical with Former Doctolib Executive

Paris-based startup studio Hexa, which recently secured a $22 million funding round, is venturing into the healthcare sector with the launch of a new vertical. Julien Méraud, a former senior team member at the French unicorn startup Doctolib, is joining Hexa to spearhead this initiative.

Evolution of Hexa

Originally known as eFounders, Hexa began its journey focusing primarily on B2B software-as-a-service startups. The studio conceptualizes startup ideas, matches them with founders, and provides initial funding and support through its core team.

Over time, startups nurtured by Hexa “graduate” from the studio to operate independently while retaining Hexa’s stake in their portfolio. Notable past successes include companies like Front, Aircall, and Spendesk.

Strategic Shift to Health Vertical

As Hexa expands into new verticals, it is redefining its strategy. With the introduction of the health vertical, the studio is not only bringing on board Julien Méraud but also collaborating with a full-time medical doctor to assess future projects.

In the health tech space, Hexa seeks two co-founders for each startup: a doctor with specialized knowledge and hands-on experience in their field, and an operational founder skilled in scaling companies.

Vertical Approach to Health Innovation

Hexa Health adopts a vertical approach, with each startup focusing on a specific pathology. The initial startups emerging from the studio will concentrate on weight loss and skin cancer detection.

According to Méraud, innovation in healthcare should be led by doctors. Hexa’s collaboration with medical professionals aims to design and develop solutions that address real healthcare challenges effectively.

Improving Care Pathways

Hexa emphasizes that its goal is not to disrupt the healthcare industry entirely but to identify inefficiencies and enhance care pathways. With an aging population in Europe and limited medical resources, there is a pressing need to improve healthcare delivery.

Méraud emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology not only to expedite care but also to enhance its quality. Hexa’s focus will be on measuring the medical quality of care and ensuring that all innovations prioritize patient outcomes.

In summary, Hexa’s entry into the health vertical signals a strategic move to leverage expertise from both the tech and medical domains to drive meaningful innovation and address critical healthcare challenges.