Recent thoughts on the convergence of Tech-Enabled Services in Healthcare and Sports Technology

Recent thoughts on the convergence of Tech-Enabled Services in Healthcare and Sports Technology

Previously, only companies with immense reach and resources could provide specialized services to niche healthcare populations. Over the past 5-10 years the landscape has shifted as companies now tailor tech-enabled services to every type of chronic conditions for various age groups and different care models, leveraging virtual care and digital programs that patients can access from the comfort of their home.

Similarly, high-end analytics, performance management, and health monitoring systems were once exclusive to professional athletes in major sports leagues. Recent tech advancements have democratized access to these tools, revolutionizing the sports tech landscape with scalable solutions that all athletes and amateurs can access and leverage from their home.

Integrating tech-enabled services in sports mirrors several challenges faced in healthcare:

Technology vs. Service: What is the right mix of hands-on service and automated technology remains crucial. How can we ensure the tech complements rather than replaces the personal human touch? When should you throw people at the problem to fix it and incur operational debt rather than building the right tech to solve the problem?

Defining the Customer Base: Who is the ideal customer? This is something I personally have made mistakes with and wish I thought about more. I firmly believe it is better to initially be the best in class focused on one specific archetype rather than be the average for a handful of customers. Defining who that initial customer is and what the north star vision is key. (More to come on this thought).

Stakeholders Galore: Tech-enabled services must navigate complex relationships between stakeholders, the paying customer with differing levels of incentives to the product that is being built. It is imperative to think through each stakeholder in your ecosystem and how your product adds value to them.
The convergence of tech-enabled services in healthcare and sports tech is not only reshaping how services are delivered but also who can access them. As these fields continue to evolve, the implications for accessibility and efficiency will define which companies are able to scale and succeed