Thailand-based investment firm Disrupt Technology Venture (Disrupt) has announced the introduction of Disrupt Health Impact Fund with the first group of co-investment partners from leading Thai business companies.
Disrupt said in a statement on Thursday that these companies include Digital Health Ventures (DHV), the innovation and venture arm of Samitivej Hospital Group, Thana Asset Company Limited (THANA), Saha Pathana Inter-Holding Public Company Limited (SPI) and Sripatum University (SPU).
According to the statement, Disrupt plans to invest in 15 DeepTech companies in the healthcare field, both domestically and internationally, within the next three to five years.
This initiative is expected to enhance the healthcare ecosystem, giving Thai people access to new, world-class health technologies, said the firm.
It also said Disrupt Health Impact Fund is still open for partners to join and support Thailand’s development into a healthcare hub for Southeast Asia.
“The healthcare market, valued at over $9 trillion or more than 330 trillion Thai baht, represents a trillion-dollar industry and a mega trend that will gain even greater importance in the future,” said Krating Poonpol, Chairman of Disrupt Health Impact Fund, 500 TukTuks Fund and ORZON Ventures.
He said Thailand faces numerous healthcare challenges, presenting a compelling investment opportunity.
“This sector is further energized by technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and BioTech, which are driving innovative transformations and significantly enhancing the efficiency and distribution of healthcare access,” he said.
According to him, Thailand, like many countries, is transitioning to a fully aging society where the number of elderly people surpasses the number of newborns.
Meanwhile, he said global life expectancy continues to increase, boosting the demand for public health services.
With its significant potential to become a hub for various industries, including health and public health, he said Thailand is poised to lead Southeast Asia.
He also said Disrupt Health Impact Fund and its partners aim to drive the growth of the HealthTech industry both nationally and globally.
“They are committed to accelerating the positive impact on health and public health within society, especially in Thailand, through investments and collaborations with joint venture partners in this initial round,
“Future partners who share our goals in healthcare and deep technology, both locally and internationally, will be crucial to our success,” he added.
Jantanarak Tuekaew, Managing Director of Disrupt and Partner of Disrupt Health Impact Fund, added that there are also supporting factors from the increasing demand for healthcare solutions in an aging society, along with the trend towards preventive physical and mental healthcare for people of all ages.
Additionally, she said Thailand has earned global recognition for its healthcare services, ranking among the top ten in the Global Health Security Index.
She said the country also benefits from numerous opportunities in the medical tourism market.
She opined that this presents an opportune moment for both Thai and foreign entrepreneurs to develop innovations that address future global challenges.
“Disrupt Health Impact Fund is ready to invest in and support world-class innovations that can improve healthcare for the Thai people,
“By collaborating with HealthTech companies, we aim to enhance and create a cooperative healthcare network within the country, gaining access to global standard Deep Technology in healthcare,” she added.
In addition to providing investment, she said the fund aims to support the business expansion of DeepTech companies in the healthcare sector by leveraging healthcare expertise from both public and private sectors.
According to her, this includes networking opportunities in pharmacy, product distribution, and in-depth research and studies through Disrupt ecosystem platform.
Additionally, she said the investment expertise of Disrupt Health Impact Fund’s management team, which has experience managing six funds and investing in a total of 134 startups across 16 countries, further enhances this support.
She noted that many of these startups are now preparing for initial public offerings (IPOs), having been supported from their early stages.
She also noted that Disrupt Health Impact Fund is committed to investing in five key areas: self care, preventive care, silver age, holistic wellness, and smart hospital.
According to her, the fund targets world-class innovations that are either in the market commercialization stage or undergoing clinical trials to seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The initial investment typically ranges from $500,000 to $2 million per company,
“Furthermore, if the companies in which Disrupt Health Impact Fund invests perform well and engage in business collaborations with co-investors, there is an additional
opportunity for these companies to receive direct investments from co-investors,” she added.
Pithon Vithayasricharoen, Managing Director of Digital Health Ventures (DHV), the innovation and venture arm of Samitivej Hospital Group, said their main goal is to create an efficient healthcare ecosystem.
“Additionally, as consumer behavior rapidly evolves with technology, we have adapted by leveraging innovation to develop a Digital Healthcare Ecosystem that adds value for the public,
“Our experience in healthcare services has highlighted opportunities in early care—preventive measures taken before illness sets in—and risk care—managing the risk of disease to reduce the likelihood of illness among Thai people,” he said.
He also believes that new technology is the key to keeping people healthy and reducing dependence on medical professionals, which in turn lowers healthcare costs
and contributes to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
According to him, Disrupt Health Impact Fund’s mission aligns with DHV to benefit society by merging their partners’ expertise to positively impact the country.
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